Scarecrows and bird deterrents are useful for farmers to scare away birds preventing them from attacking fruits and vegetables. While traditional human-shaped models are still in use, shiny accessories, sound emitters, and gas cannons are also available.
Visual deterrents come in various forms:
- classic straw man scarecrows to plant in the garden;
- shiny kites mimicking predators to be hung on a pole;
- balloons with large eyes that move with the wind;
- twisted rods to hang on branches;
- shimmering holographic strips;
- bird deterrent turbines.
Sound deterrents are also available. Here are some facts about gas cannons:
- they use butane or propane;
- they emit blasts that can reach 120 dB;
- they are used during the seeding season;
- they are effective against seagulls, pigeons, and starlings;
- they must be placed at least 300 m away from the house.
Sound emitters are an alternative:
- they emit sounds of predators or distressed birds;
- users can choose from the recorded sounds based on the species to be deterred;
- the disturbance to neighbors should be considered when installing them.
The following tips are useful to optimize the effectiveness of the deployed device by avoiding birds' habituation:
- it is recommended to move them regularly;
- it is advisable to frequently alternate the colors of the balloons (at least once a week);
- it's best to vary the bird or predator sounds as often as possible.
Thus, different types of scarecrows and bird deterrents are available, but the choice depends on the area to be covered and each one’s budget. Indeed, a balloon covers about 500 m² compared to 1 to 2 hectares for a kite and up to 5 hectares for a gas cannon.
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