Stop Damage to Blueberry Crops using Audio & Visual Bird Deterrents

Birds & wildlife cause millions of dollars worth of damage every year to blueberry crops.  The loss of these crops not only affects the farmers’ yield, it also leads to lost jobs from the loss in income. This is becoming large problem due the continued expansion of blueberry crop size and the increase in restrictions for repellents and toxins.
Birds are one of the leading sources of crop damage that impacts farmers negatively, creating a crop loss of 10% all the way up to 60% in some instances.  All sorts of birds can contribute to the loss of crops, but the main problem birds are starlings, robins, blackbirds and finches. Animals like rabbits, raccoons, and porcupines also play a role in damaging blueberries.

Out dated bird control methods
Farmers have experienced limited success using bird control methods in the past because the birds tended to become accustomed to the sounds and/or visual products that were available.  Common audio deterrents just repeat bird distress calls over and over and use generic bird/predator calls that are not specific to the geographic location. The predictable play pattern and the unfamiliar predator sounds tend to fail after a few days. 

Solution: Use a combination of modern agricultural bird deterrents.

To successfully increase your crop yield, a combination of bird deterrent products should be deployed about 6 weeks before fruit starts to show color.

Small vineyards or farms can use The Bird Squawker. It is from the same family of products as the Bird Wailer with the same kinds of  bird distress and predator calls , but it’s designed for use on smaller plots of land. The Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon is another effective bird deterrent that can be used along with the Bird Wailer to create additional confusion in the flocks.  The Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon. A lightweight portable propane-fired cannon emits automatic thunderclaps that deter pest birds and other nuisance wildlife. When using a Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon to repel problem birds, make sure you purchase the additional tripod, which allows the gun to change directions after every blast.  This creates a more realistic ‘threat’ from the bird or nuisance animal’s perspective. Also available is the Zon Gun Electra Bird Scare Cannon which has a built in Timer. 

 
Visual Bird Deterrents
While the Bird Wailer is designed to be a stand-alone product, when you combine it with visual bird deterrents you will increase the chances of a successful bird scare campaign.  The small amount spent will be more than made up by the increase in your crop value.
Visual bird deterrents work on bird’s predatory fear of sudden movement and predator effigies. A variety of visual deterrents like the Dead Crow Bird Scare Decoy, Holographic Owl, Holographic Repel Strips, Scare Eye Balloons, ScareEye Octopus, Mylar Flash Tape   Bird Free Bird Repellent Gel appears as flames to birds and can be hung on branches in pre-loaded dishes and a  bird scare device called the Flying Falcon Bird Diverter fly's on wire up to 100' in the air. This product creates the fear that a predator is flying over the vineyard.  Position the visual deterrents so that they can move freely in the wind and thereby catch the bird’s attention. This, combined with the predator calls and bird distress calls creates an ‘area of terror’ that constitutes a realistic threat to the birds’ safety, causing them to search elsewhere for their meal or roosting location.

Electrified Critter Netting
If you are experiencing a problem with small animals like raccoons and porcupines, Electrified Critter Netting can be set up around the perimeter of the field to keep them out and train the animals to go somewhere else.  Electrified Critter Netting provides a static electric-like shock to the animals, convincing them that whatever is on the other side of the net barrier is not worth taking the risk of the shock from the netting. 

Reduce crop loss to birds
By installing modern and effective bird control products like those mentioned above, you can dramatically increase crop yield and value.  The small upfront investment will be rewarded at the end of the season.  Devices like the Bird Wailer and Zon Gun Mark IV Propane Cannon can be deployed year-after-year, making for a very cost-effective investment in crop protection.

Contact us at mark@birdsgottago.com with details about your bird problem and we can work with you to determine the best bird control products to deter the birds from your property.

BirdsGottaGo.com

1-855-741-3222