Birds can
consume an entire crop of grapes. So, if you ever start your own vineyard, like
we are proposing for our group project, you need to address the bird thread.
There are a couple options based on my research:
Netting - This is the costliest but also most effective.
You can cover the vines directly with either nylon or plastic nets. Reusable
nets, if treated well, can last three to five years.
Audible
Scare Devices – You can use amplified distress calls, propane cannons, and more…
Visual Scare
Devices – These don’t have to be your mother grandparents’ scarecrow anymore, you
can use balloons, kites, and mirrors. One hassle with this is that the birds adjust
to the scare devices quickly, so you must move them around weekly to keep birds
on their toes…or, better put, off them.
Chemical Bird Repellents – Questionable health wise.
Overall, you
can choose a physical barrier, which is the most effective but also most costly, or one of the other
methods. Which you choose will depend on your budget, the severity of the problem, and the type of bird threat. If you ever plant a vineyard, make sure to assess and deal with the threat upfront or the birds will drive you cuckoo!
Growing up we had a small hobby vineyard that got picked over by the birds for the first few seasons. When my grandpa (who had the knack for all things agricultural) moved in with us, he came up with the idea of installing small wind mills on the ends of every other row of grapes. When breezes would come through, the wind mills would slightly shake the post supporting the trellises, scaring off any birds that were resting and snacking on the vines. For the remainder of the time we lived on that property, we didn't have any more bird issues! The solution probably only works for smaller operations (as hundreds of wind mills whirring in the wind would probably look ridiculous), but we certainly enjoyed the benefits of the idea!
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