Historically, strawberries were used to treat fevers and other ailments. Now we eat them because they taste so good. They contain lots of Vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid along with wonderful health-preserving antioxidants. So it's a good thing Americans are consuming twice as many strawberries as they did 20 years ago. Unfortunately birds are very fond of strawberries.
Some folks protect the fruits by using bird netting.
Scientists are attempting to breed high-sucrose varieties that birds avoid. The birds in William Morris's garden ate many of his strawberries. Yet he never allowed his gardener to harm the creatures. Founder of the British Arts and Crafts Movement, he was a noted designer, artist, and author. He memorialized his struggles with the birds in one of his famous designs, the Strawberry Thief, in which he depicted the thrushes eating strawberries.