New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

---

Evaluation of two visual birdscarers, the Peaceful Pyramid® and an eye-spot balloon, in two vineyards

Y. Fukuda^*

Ecology and Entomology Group
Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division
PO Box 84
Lincoln University
Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand

C. M. Frampton^†

Applied Computing, Mathematics and Statistics Group
Applied Management and Computing Division
Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand

G. J. Hickling^‡

Ecology and Entomology Group
Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division
Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand

Present addresses:

^*Centre for the Study of Agriculture, Food and ^­Environment, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. yuki_fukuda@hotmail.com

^†Department of Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch Hospital, Private Bag 4710 Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

^‡Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Wildlife, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.

Abstract The effectiveness of a visual birdscarer, the Peaceful Pyramid®, relative to a much-cheaper eye-spot balloon was investigated experimentally in two vineyards in Canterbury, New Zealand. Monitoring of bird damage to natural bunches of Riesling grapes within vineyard blocks showed that the rate of starling (Sturnus vulgaris) damage to the crop was reduced significantly by the balloon relative to pyramid and control plots. Nevertheless, after 24 days of monitoring, birds in the balloon plot had damaged 75% of the grapes, respectively (cf. 84% in the pyramid plot). In a second trial, clusters of table grapes were attached to vineyard wire at a Lincoln vineyard. The balloon and pyramid both reduced bird damage to clusters within 15 m of the device, but had no measurable effect on clusters further away. We conclude that neither device would provide growers with any economically significant reduction in grape damage. This study highlights the importance of undertaking quantitative assessments of the numerous bird-scaring technologies presently available to growers.

Keywords bird damage; bird scarer; grape; habituation; pest management; Sturnus vulgaris

Z07063; Online publication date 1 July 2008; Received 27 December 2007; accepted 6 April 2008

New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 217–224
0301–4223/08/3503–0217 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality (1071K) | screen-quality (713K)