A "bird-friendly" means to deter birdies from pecking before the flowers are actually ready?

Cut thin strips of plastic and tie them around the area. Birds don't like movement. Even a light breeze will cause the plastic strips to waft.

I had a major bird prob. last Summer. The plastic strips did the trick.

I've no idea how the heck the flowers got so tall. They were supposed to grow 6' to 8'. I planted them indoors and transferred outside in March. (Last year, I was late in planting and wanted an earlier start.). I think, I've got 48 growing.