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
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