deterrent

Oddly, I haven't seen any birds hanging out on the fence that edges the garden, like they usually do. And even though I still hear the soft, mewing call of the catbird nearby, I don't see them poking boldly through the plants or tugging on the green Strawberries. Suspicious, I keep checking out the window to see if they're coming by when I'm not looking. But now I think it might be this:

Perhaps the bird think this hose that's been left on the porch (right next to the Strawberry plot) is a snake? and it's keeping them at bay? I'd like to think so! It would be the easiest pest-deterrent I've ever had. But I'm still not sure, so keeping my eye out to see if the birds are still eating my fruit.