Bird Control Options (and non-options)

In the last issue of TFGV, I outlined the reasons that European starlings are such successful immigrants to North America and such persistent pests in grapes and tender fruit. Starlings are by no means the only birds that can cause problems in grape and fruit production; other species frequently cited as pests include robins, grackles, mockingbirds, waxwings, and blackbirds, as well as a host of unlikely, but occasional fruit feeders such as goldfinches and even gulls. There are behavioural differences between different types of birds, but regardless of the species involved, the goal of growers is to keep them from damaging fruit and grapes. When planning a bird management strategy, refer to the OMAF factsheet Bird Control on Grape and Tender Fruit Farms, Order No. 98-035, and always remember the fundamentals of bird management:

• Start early before birds establish a pattern of fruit feeding on your farm
• Using a variety of methods is much better than one single approach; no method listed below is a stand-alone solution to the problem
• Unpredictability is the key to successfully disturbing birds - vary devices, timing, and placement for best results with acoustical devices
• Communicate your plans with nearby neighbours to mitigate disputes
• Physical exclusion using nets is the most successful method to keep birds from feeding on grapes

Physical exclusion (i.e. netting)

Pros: best single method of reducing bird feeding on grapes; effective, reliable and not subject to bird acclimation (i.e. they can't "get used to it"); economically feasible over life of netting; best of all neighbours love nets compared to other bird scaring methods; research to best timing of net draping underway and if there are other advantages with training, or disadvantages with growth
Cons: significant cost outlay at first with on-going operating costs

Propane cannons

Pros: effective, familiar and reliable; easy to service; relatively cheap; best uses well - known (never fire at less than 3 minute intervals, move around vineyard frequently, randomized rotating multi-shots units work best, newer programmable units can be turned off at low feeding times such as middle of the day)
Cons: Frequent noise complaints; theft or vandalism of units increasing; acclimation of some birds if not moved around or random

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Electronic sound devices

Pros: effective and reliable; generally less irritating to neighbours than cannons; devices that mimic distress calls may also attract hawks which repel pest birds
Cons: not everyone finds them less irritating; distress calls mostly work only on the species mimicked

Whistling or pyrotechnic pistol cartridges

Pros: effective; no firearms acquisition certificate (FAC) needed
Cons: disturbing to some neighbours; require your presence to use

Shotguns

Pros: none
Cons: not generally effective and not as effective as pyrotechnic units; require FAC; disturbing to neighbours; will not reduce population of birds significantly; knowledge of legalities under Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act regarding nuisance wildlife needed

Scare-eye balloons

Pros: effective on some species
Cons: not effective on robins or waxwings

Streamers and flashtape

Pros: cheap; relatively easy to install
Cons: yellow fine for blackbirds but red/silver needed for other species; useless if not maintained properly

Flashing lights and mirrors

Pros: effective against starlings; solar powered units available that require little maintenance besides frequent moving around vineyard
Cons: lights good at dusk and dawn only; mirrors only good in sunshine

Hawk silhouettes, stuffed owls, etc.

Pros: more realistic units on market now; cheap and easy to deploy
Cons: only effective for a short period of time; require very frequent moving

Falconry

Pros: effective if sustained activity
Cons: expensive if hiring a service; birds of prey are not pets and require significant investment in time and training for falconers; long-term commitment necessary

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Chemical repellents

Pros: nice idea in theory
Cons: no such product registered; no products used on other crops (e.g. turf) that would not adversely affect flavour of grapes

Personal presence in vineyard (i.e. driving ATV etc. around)

Pros: none
Cons: not very effective for time and energy expended; not feasible in large vineyards; potentially dangerous; physically exhausting as must be constant presence to be effective

Trapping

Pros: none
Cons: expensive to construct traps; must separate and free all migratory birds and non-nuisance birds (hence legal liability issues are important) within 24 hours; must understand all responsibilities and applicable directives under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act; nearly constant maintenance of traps needed; must "seed" traps with some live and cared-for birds (must provide water etc. for trapped and "seed" birds); very low return for energy and money expended; American crows, brown-headed cowbirds, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, starlings and house sparrows may be trapped and killed; will not greatly affect local bird numbers

Poison and adhesives

It is illegal to use poison and adhesives to kill, injure or capture wildlife.

Related Links

• Why European Starlings Are A Perennial Problem: History And Biology Of European Starlings In North America
• Bird Control on Grape and Tender Fruit Farms, OMAFRA Factsheet 98-035

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