Apr 26, 2018

California vineyard uses robotic lasers to solve bird problems

Lasers provide successful results at a vineyard in Sonoma County, California. According to the Bird Control Group, this is the first time the laser bird repelling technology is used in California. Since adopting the robotic laser, the vineyard has achieved a 99.8 percent bird reduction and annually saved around $25,000.

Jim Griffin, Owner of Griffin’s Lair, Sonoma County, California has a 21 acres vineyard that suffered from bird damage to crops like many other vineyard owners. He spent around 25,000 USD per year on netting and labor costs to keep thousands of birds at a distance. This was labor-intensive and didn’t solve the bird problems. The biggest disadvantage of bird netting is that it is not effective for areas where many birds are foraging or perching. The birds still can get under the net and damage the grapes. The net also makes it difficult to work on the grapes for annual pruning, fertilizing or removing damaged grapes.

Griffin heard about the newest laser technology and was intrigued to discover the Agrilaser Autonomic. The automated laser is used at many vineyards around the world including Devonian Coast Wineries in Canada, Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina and Summerhill Road Vineyard in Australia. After having contacted Bird Control Group, Jim had 4 solar powered lasers installed on poles to cover the entire vineyard. As a result, Griffin’s Lair saves around $25,000 every year and has a 99.8  percent reduction in birds.

“We tried many different bird deterrent measures but most are difficult to use,and lasers make it easier and very effective.” Griffin said.

Griffin’s Lair Vineyard is located in the southernmost part of the Sonoma Coast AVA (American Viticultural Appellation), California. The vineyard is owned and managed by Joan and Jim Griffin.

The laser bird deterrent technology takes advantage of a bird’s natural instincts. Birds perceive an approaching laser beam as a predator and take flight to seek safety when the laser beam passes by. There are more than 6,000 users of the bird deterrent lasers worldwide, but this is the first time the technology is being used on California winegrapes.

Bird damage in vineyards 

The United States winegrape industries contributed more than $162 billion  annually to the American economy according to 2007 research. Despite the overall positive situation in the American grape industry, bird problems make the grape growers suffer losses in the millions of dollars every year. According to the research done by A. Anderson, C.A. Lindell, K.M. Moxcey and others, California and Washington states have the biggestgrape damage caused by birds calculated at $49,099,613 for California and $12,892,063 for Washington. Current yield-loss percentage due to bird damage in grape growing in California is 2.9 percent per year. The birds responsible for damage to grapes include American robins and European starlings.

Steinar Henskes, CEO of Bird Control Group, wants to help grape growers to solve their bird problems:

“I am proud of the savings Bird Control Group realized at the Griffin’s Lair vineyard. California is one of the largest grape growing regions in the world and with our help the grape industry in California can straighten their top position.”

For more information, visit: www.birdcontrolgroup.com.