Mulch seems to really confuse gophers and can greatly reduce the problems. We have had problems with birds at the height of the drought. One of their population controls is normally driven by drought. When the drought was at its height here we had 10-20 or more thrashers fighting over every bug or worm and digging up everything with 20 or more jays fighting above them. For fruit trees foil works a little.
Fake owls work for a day or so.
The jays will figure out most defenses as you put them in place. The birds are starving during a drought, pray for rain. Do not become part of the problem and feed them. You go on vacation and birds die. Putting native plants in to provide habitat and food is not a problem and should leave you with a clear conscience.