VASCM: Alternatives to netting for birds

Sat Jun 1 12:11:15 PDT 2013

Glad this topic is coming to the forefront.  eWe just recently had a visit
from Daniel Hedin of Airstrike Bird Control LLC.
Www.airstrikebirdcontrol.com.  We personally looked into
Falconing several years ago but realized the time commitment to always
having to train and keep a bird of prey was beyond reasonable time away
from the home, sales trips etc.  Come to find out we have had these folks
residing in the SC Mtns. For a while but they do most of their work in the
SLO/ Monterey area.

They are looking to do more work in our area.  They have 9 birds and and
plenty of experience.

Falcon control is one of the most environmentally sound ways of doing bird
control because it doesn't trap birds of prey in your nets.

The cost is the same or slightly less then netting if you haven't already
invested in the nets and is dependent on the size and scale of your
vineyard or operation.

They recommend coming out every 3 days.

I think That in conjunction with cannons and other distress calls might
work even better.  While still leaving the vines open for fruit thinning
and other maintenance into the fall.

Working with your neighboring growers would be key to coordinating
logistics of the falconer's visits and would also increase your economy of
scale and therefore reduce your costs for their services.

John Schumacher
Hallcrest Vineyards

BTW any way we can change the font and increase the size of this message
board to increase the readability?  :-)

On 5/29/13 9:44 PM, "TG at ChateauHetsakais"
<till.guldimann at chateauhetsakais.com> wrote:

>Instead of cannons you may want to consider hosting an al-Qaida
>[spelling??]
>fugitive - that should attract some government drones which will scare
>away
>the birds
>till
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>Till Guldimann . Chateau Hetsakais .  21891 Via Regina, Saratoga, CA 95070
>Tel +1 (408) 741-1270 . Mobile +1 (408) 666-3541 .
>www.chateauhetsakais.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: vascm-bounces at kkn.net [mailto:vascm-bounces at kkn.net] On Behalf Of
>Vinpichon at aol.com
>Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 9:29 AM
>To: jmiller1068 at gmail.com; Rfalfaro at aol.com
>Cc: VASCM at kkn.net
>Subject: Re: VASCM: Alternatives to netting for birds
>
>I haven't heard anyone mention the propane cannon?
> 
> 
>In a message dated 5/29/2013 9:19:46 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
>jmiller1068 at gmail.com writes:
>
>That's  good to know, Richard. My comments were about the vagaries of
>overhead  netting, but from what you say you don't need to use it at all
>with equally  good results. I do know of vineyards that I believe are
>stretching their Pinot  season well into October because of netting
>blocking, but until I have the  right measuring equipment I can't prove
>it.
>
>Joe
>
>On May 28, 2013,  at 10:35 AM, Rfalfaro at aol.com wrote:
>
>> Using fruit zone nets cuts  down dramatically the shading of the vines
>vs. overhead netting. It costs more  but does not interfere with the
>photosynthesis like the overhead netting  does....
>>  
>> In a message dated 5/28/2013 10:31:36 A.M.  Pacific Daylight Time,
>jmiller1068 at gmail.com writes:
>> Many years ago on  a visit to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory,
>>I 
>found they were using  sounds to keep birds away from their very
>sensitive 
>radio receivers. After  lengthy experiment they came up with a random
>sound 
>generator that made an  infinite series of sounds, some very bizarre,
>that 
>never repeated. They  claimed it had been working for years. I urged the
>people involved to contact  grape and other growers, but I don't believe
>that 
>ever happened. I could try  to find out if this is all lost to the past.
>> 
>> Soloar energy  people working with photovoltaics have looked for good
>screening to  protect their cells, but all screens and nets, even chicken
>wire, block  significant sunlight. The finest effective screen an
>engineering  
>friend  of mine found was made out of very fine chicken wire, and it
>blocked
>
>15% of  the light. I'm probably alone in this, but I believe that some
>people are  using nets that block enough sunlight to delay their grapes
>ripening 
>by weeks.  I've seen nets that are blocking over 50% of the sunlight in
>many
>
>places  because of their folds.I'm trying to get the equipment available
>to 
>measure  the blockage of different nets. It has to be done carefully. Of
>course there's  more to ripening than sunlight, but somehow I think
>photosynthesis is a  central element, and less photons mean slower
>ripening.
>Maybe out 
>in the  literature there are some studies of this already. If anybody
>thinks this is a  good thing for me to pursue, let me know.
>> 
>> Joe
>>  
>> On May 22, 2013, at 7:47 PM, Jim Adkisson wrote:
>> 
>>  > I have purchased recorded sounds of a dozen birds of prey that is
>supposed
>> > to keep birds away. Claims that it is used at golf  courses, airports
>and for
>> > crops. DOES NOT WORK. Happy to send  copy of WAV files for anyone
>interested.
>> > Netting is your  salvation.
>> > Jim Adkisson
>> > Falcon Hill 
>> >  
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From:  vascm-bounces at kkn.net [mailto:vascm-bounces at kkn.net] On Behalf
>>Of
>> >  Candice Wozniak
>> > Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 6:25 PM
>>  > To: Debbie Lehmann
>> > Cc: VASCM at kkn.net
>> > Subject:  Re: VASCM: Alternatives to netting for birds
>> > 
>> > I want  to try a computer operated sound/noise maker. Does anyone
>>have 
>one I
>>  > can have or borrow?
>> > I have a Rodenator available for anyone  to borrow.
>> > -Candice Wozniak
>> > 
>> > On May 22,  2013, at 12:48 PM, Debbie Lehmann
>><debbie.lehmann at gmail.com>
>>  > wrote:
>> > 
>> >> Has anybody used something other  than nets to control birds after
>> > veraison?
>> >> We  are thinking about experimenting this year with one of those
>>sound
>>  > boxes
>> >> that puts out predatory bird calls, and maybe  using reflective tape
>>as
>> >> well. Does anybody have experience  with these? Do they work at all?
>> >> 
>> >>  Debbie
>> >> 
>> >> Portola Vineyards
>> >>  _______________________________________________
>> >> VASCM mailing  list (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>> >> Post to:  vascm at kkn.net
>> >> Manage your subscription at:
>>http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>> >> Archives at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/
>> > 
>> >  _______________________________________________
>> > VASCM mailing  list (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>> > Post to:  vascm at kkn.net
>> > Manage your subscription at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>> > Archives at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/
>> > 
>> >  _______________________________________________
>> > VASCM mailing  list (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>> > Post to:  vascm at kkn.net
>> > Manage your subscription at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>> > Archives at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/
>> 
>>  _______________________________________________
>> VASCM mailing list  (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>> Post to:  vascm at kkn.net
>> Manage your subscription at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>> Archives at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/
>
>_______________________________________________
>VASCM  mailing list (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>Post to:  vascm at kkn.net
>Manage your subscription at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>Archives at:  http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/
>
>_______________________________________________
>VASCM mailing list (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>Post to: vascm at kkn.net
>Manage your subscription at: http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>Archives at: http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/
>
>_______________________________________________
>VASCM mailing list (http://www.kkn.net/mailman/listinfo/vascm)
>Post to: vascm at kkn.net
>Manage your subscription at: http://www.kkn.net/mailman/options/vascm
>Archives at: http://www.kkn.net/mailman/private/vascm/