Picked the berries that were ripe today. We are collecting about 5 pounds every other day or so. Charlie and Mimi, my two dynamic "Scarebirds" ( because it's an equal-opportunity scarecrow, I hope) seem to be taking to their jobs nicely. Flock-off! ...at least away from our elderberries, is their motto.
I am not certain if the birds are being scared away, but we don't appear to have flocks of any size descending. Nor are we observing a significant berry loss. Any bare spots on the umbrels seem to be where the earlier beetle damage ate away the blossoms before the berries could set.