Author: Falcon Crop Protection

Over recent years, the emergence of falcon replica kites has issued a challenge to more established opinions on how to scare birds away from vineyards. One fact that has not changed is that bird damage to grapes incurs a significant cost that justifies reducing to the economic minimum. With grapes at $4000 a ton and losses in the range of 10-80%, the cost of bird damage is very significant indeed.

Widespread use of flash tape, plastic owls attached to poles, sound devices, and other “hopefuls” have all but fallen by the wayside as being ineffective but not cheap. Although still prevalent in many vineyards, these bird repellents are more like window dressings than effective solutions. Vineyard managers are essentially left with propane gas cannons and netting the only effective means of minimizing crop losses due to bird damage. Or does it?

Many owners and managers have tried with great success the relatively new falcon replica “FrightKites.” Made from weather, wind, and sun resistant fabric, these kites replicate the size, shape, color, and airborne random movements of a real falcon. Falcons are one of the most widely feared predators of birds in the wild. Flying from a telescoping pole, these kites can reach a height of 70ft in the air, so they are visible from birds in flight approaching vineyards. A mere 2 mph wind will cause these kites to rise in the air and be seen hovering just over the vineyard canopy. As the wind increases, so does the acrobatics of the kite, and the movements are totally random to minimize birds getting “accustomed” to its presence.

The primary objective is to get the kite airborne so approaching birds see it and recognize it from sufficient distance away to cause them to change direction and avoid the pace in which it is flying. If you were a bird approaching a vineyard and saw what appears to be one or more hunting falcons, would you keep going to land directly under its eye or would you merely veer away and feed at another adjacent but unprotected vineyard?

Do they really work?

Yes! Vineyard owners and managers are seeing and reporting results of over 95% elimination of bird damage to grapes.

Sales of 10 or more FrightKites per customer are not uncommon, and usage is now growing to include protection of fruit trees, home gardens, nuts, vegetables, and other commodities.

The left photo below shows Dan Barwick from Paradise Ridge in 2017, inspecting grapes that were fully exposed and protected only by the FrightKite. The prior year, he had used netting. The lower right photo shows the typical fruit damage in an unprotected vineyard of Pinot grapes.

After a test period of only 3-4 weeks, Dan purchased six more Falcon FrightKites and employed no netting at all.

The photo below shows one vineyard at the Opolo Property in Paso Robles with Scott Welcher holding one of his many FrightKites. After one season of extended testing, Scott made the following comment.

“Well, I am confident that we had damage as you have witnessed before putting up the falcons. After deployment, the damage appeared to cease as evidenced by the dried-up bird damage. In conclusion, I would say they were very effective! I then placed them in our Zinfandel vineyard to protect it before harvest; and once again, the results were a visible reduction in damage.”

Verasion is the time when birds become most interested in grapes, so the FrightKites only have to be installed and flown from the onset of verasion to harvest. With only 3-4 months usage per year, these kites have a lifespan of many, many years, and are easy to install, take down, and store.

Economics and Coverage

One FrightKite costs about $300 and will effectively protect approximately 1.25 acres. Two falcons will protect about 3 acres as the area between the two products when flying is regarded by birds as the “kill zone.” Typically, multiple units are installed about 150-200ft apart.

Let’s now look at gas cannons and netting as alternatives.

Bird Netting

Bird netting is the favored product for protection of grapes and fruit against bird strikes because it works. But without any doubt, it is expensive, it is hard to install, and if not done correctly, birds will get inside and continue to inflict damage. In the case of “drape over” netting birds can land on the net itself and still peck at the grapes causing damage.

Once installed, the canopy can continue to grow through the netting and this makes it very difficult to remove without damage and need for repair. If not handled gently, it will rip or tear when removed at the end of the season. Typically, 3-5 years is the average lifespan of the product.

There are without doubt many different types of nets available (mesh size, color, strength, and so on) and many different techniques of installation. However, not one is as easy or is as low cost as the FrightKite.

Costs widely vary when you account for the type of net, the installation method (drape netting, side netting, raised netting over the canopy); but, in overall terms when you include material cost, labor cost, machinery cost, and so on, costs can run $1000-$5000 or more per acre. Typically, with a six-man crew and a specialized tractor to run the netting, it will take one day to cover about 2 acres. This puts netting at well over three times the cost of the FrightKite and with very little added economic benefit.

Propane Gas Cannons

An average propane gas cannon with rotating head will provide around 17,000 blasts per 5-gallon tank and costs in the region of $250. More expensive models can run over $450. One cannon is advertised to protect between 1 and 5 acres; however, there are many drawbacks.

1. Birds do become adapted to the noise and ignore its sound.
2. Neighbors do not become de-sensitized to the noise and find it obtrusive and annoying. In 2017, the Napa Valley Register ran an article describing how several residents adjacent to the cannon had made written and personal complaints about the noise. Cannons can start at 6 AM and continue until 8 PM or later.
3. Regular maintenance is required, not the least of which is the replacement of propane tanks at $18.50 per 5-gallon tank.

So, with quite limited effectiveness and so many drawbacks, the use of these products is taking a declining place in order of preference for bird exclusion.

Conclusions

The use of FrightKites is now emerging as an effective, low-cost alternative to netting and gas cannons, with results that more than justify their cost. We expect to see a lot more of these flying in vineyards in 2018 and the years ahead as silent protectors of grapes and fruits.

They may be cute and remind us of the beach, but seagulls can cause lots of headache for businesses and their customers.

Did you know that there are literally articles explaining how to survive a seagull attack? Safety hazards, noise, health dangers, and more can arise from having seagulls nearby.

Keep reading to learn more about the threats of Seagulls and the top reasons why businesses should invest in seagull deterrent.

1. They’re a Pest

Seagulls in commercialized areas such as tourist spots are not afraid of people. That means that they will stick around and pester customers as they anxiously await a drop of food.

Better yet, sometimes seagulls won’t wait until someone sets food down. They will simply snatch it out of an individual’s hands.

Losing food, being stalked, and the smells and uncleanliness that come with seagulls are just a few reasons to make clients upset and cause a negative experience at your business.

With a seagull deterrent, you can make sure customers have a positive and comfortable experience without worrying about wildlife interference.

2. They Transmit Disease

Seagulls are one of many animals that carry diseases such as E. Coli, salmonella, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Contact with seagull feces, whether directly or through food contamination, can spread disease and cause food poisoning and serious illness.

If your business is in crop production, your crops can become a transmitter of disease if they are not cleaned properly and are consumed with bird droppings on them.

Business owners will not want to be the blame for someone getting sick. This could ruin their reputation or even lead to a lawsuit. Seagull repellant will keep customers, your reputation, and business safe.

3. They Damage Crops

Many species of birds rely on fruits and vegetables for survival. And many seek to crops to get their share of food. Seagulls are not any different.

Seagulls congregate in groups wherever they can find food. That means that if one has found your plants, many have found them.

Consistent consumption of crops before they are ready for harvest can damage your plants. Plus, it will decrease your production for use or sale.

The seagull population is increasing so it is vital to protect investments such as crops sooner than later.

4. They Damage Property and Curb Appeal

Seagull feces will corrode building materials, leading to damage and quicker wear and tear. Without keeping seagulls away, business owners will have to replace exterior materials such as siding, railing, fencing, and especially paint quicker and more often.

If company vehicles are outside, these are in danger too. Seagull droppings will corrode vehicle paint if not consistently washed off.

Seagulls themselves can damage roof tiles and cause drain blockages if they choose to nest on the roof or gutter. Both issues can lead to further problems and unsafe conditions.

Thus, seagulls can be extremely costly to business owners. Even more importantly, bird droppings are not appealing and will lower the curb appeal of any company. It may keep potential customers away.

5. They Create Safety Hazards

Seagulls pose many additional safety risks aside from building damage and disease. Keeping on the subject of feces, seagull droppings outside of a business can cause someone to slip, fall, and possibly become injured.

Seagulls also are known to accidentally start fires by taking lit cigarettes to their nests. They use smoking buds to ward off mice and other pests. While clever, a nest that catches on fire will put your building, employees, and customers in great danger.

In addition, seagulls are not actually nice and friendly birds even though they may seem that way. They are highly protective of their young and their nests which sometimes leads them to attack people if they sense danger.

Basically, all of these characteristics of seagulls are hazardous and may lead to injuries. The responsible move is to avoid these risks altogether and get seagull deterrent for your business.

6. They Attract Insects

Insects such as fleas, mites, and beetles are attracted to seagulls’ nests. They feed off the microorganisms left in the nest.

Once insects have found a nest, it is hard to get rid of them. And, they reproduce quickly.

So, having nests on or near a business building may lead to infestation and human attack. Clients certainly will not be happy if they come home with fleas or bites.

Keep the bugs away by keeping the seagulls away.

7. They Aren’t Quiet

Seagulls are not quiet animals. They use audible sounds to attract mates, ward off danger, and mark their territory.

They’re not just noisy on the beach, either. They will be noisy at a place of business, too.

Don’t let your customers have to endure constant squawking. Get a seagull deterrent and deter the noise and annoyance away.

Falcon FrightKites Seagull Deterrent Will Get the Job Done

Don’t worry about the safety and perceptions of your customers, the reputation of your business, or costs that come with seagull infestation. Purchase an effective seagull deterrent today.

With Falcon FrightKites, you can keep seagulls away without using any harmful products such as bird nets. Plus, FrightKites costs much less in time and money compared to alternatives. They are durable and easy to use, too.