BirdsCare or BC

Damage to fruit caused by birds. Sour rots (4)

Bird damage (46)

Slightly reduced bird presence (83% to 77%) but significant damage reduction on fruit (63% down to 33%). (4)

Not recommended for leafy vegetables (4)

From the HortResearch report 'Evaluation of Bird Repellent Spray on Winegrapes'; Multiple applicaions of 'Birdscare' had no effect (83% down to 77%) on the incidence of bird damage under high pressure, but significantly reduced the proportion of bunches with a high damage score (63% down to 33%), and increased the proportion of bunches with a low damage score. The net effect of these responses would be to reduce the development of sour rots within the crop. There was no effect of 'Birdscare' on juice soluble sugars concentration (4)

Omahau Orchard - Kiwifruit Gold; "100% control - no damage to the crop". Murray Reid - Kiwifruit Gold; "Definitely provides high degree of protection". Roger Simpson - Kiwifruit Green; "Found to be very effective." Jane Fear - Blueberrys; "After seere bird damage I sprayed BirdScare on late varieties. No nets were used. I was very pleased with the results." Warren Sexton - Nashi Pears; "BirdScare definitely keeps bird damage down." Vince Wilson - Peaches; "Significantly reduced bird damage to crop area." (46)

High level of damage reduced from 60% to 30%. (4)

BioGro registered and ACVM approved and exempt from registration. (4)

Various growers have been using BirdScare for up to five years, and we have many positive comments, such as "significantly reduced bird damage", "good control", "excellent - seemed to chase the birds away after application", "will continue to use - happy with results", "obvious control when applied, as birds leave", "birds were nesting in the crop (blueberries), but BirdScare was giving no results until the soil fertility was improved, and then the birds disappeared", "birds were popping in and out of the hedges beforehand, after BirdScare was applied they disappeared". Growers also report that where bird pressure is high, BirdScare alone is not sufficient, and other control measures may be required as a supplement e.g. A gold grower is near a silage area on one orchard and near a poultry farm on another orchard. He reports having to supplement BirdScare with poisons, balloons, scary tapes, gas guns, shotguns - any method he can. Observation of birds is advised after heavy continuous rain or watering from frost protection sprinklers as several growers have reported birds returning and a further BirdScare application is sometimes required. As with all products the better the nutrition of the plants the more consistent the results. Some growers are uncertain as to the effectiveness of BirdScare, and comments such as "used for several years, and not sure whether the product worked". "There was a lack of bird pressure, but something worked". "Difficult to know whether to apply BirdScare or not, some years may see minimal bird damage, but we apply it as an insurance as it does seem to have some effect". "Birds seem to be chased away and want to leave the area after spraying" - (BdMax Spring 2009 newsletter.) (4)