Managing Birds in the Vineyard

Independent Grape Growers of Paso Robles held another seminar for growers on May 22nd. This one covered the various means by which birds may be managed during grape ripening. All the common and some exotic means were discussed. The common, for example, included noise makers (propane "cannons"and recorded distressed bird cries), visual threats (stuffed owls and those big balloon "eyes") and predator bird houses in the vineyard - very effective. A more exotic means is to employ the services of a falconer-rather expensive but very effective. The conclusions drawn were that no single means of bird control is effective for long. Variations of means and locations of the means helps measurably. And the grower can only, at best, hope to move the flocks on to another location. Incidentally, harming the little darlings is illegal but a shotgun with blanks is effective while patroling the vineyard for other purposes.