There are a bunch of cardinals every year and they most definitely destroy tomatoes and strawberries. Husband grew some tomatoes and had several strawberry plants and the birds were terrible.
He put up a fake owl that would turn in the wind. The birds used it for a free carousel ride.
I'll keep my song-birds, since I don't have any problem with them eating m tomatoes.
Maybe I should post a song-bird recipe from Escoffier out near the garden, just in case. ;)
/johnny
I put up old shiny computer disks and old aluminum pie pans on string. I also staked shiny pinwheels around the garden perimeter. It seemed to help. We also put up nets and wren houses.