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University
of California_Davis, CA (Crows)
"From the start of bird control with distress calls in the
Bird Gard ABC, crows virtually abandoned 2 almond orchards in
Yolo County and remained away from 3 other almond orchards in
Sutter County for periods ranging from 9 to 30 days. Damage decreased
at all sites compared to 1997. Almond losses ranged from $22/ac
to $138/ac in 1998 compared to $46/ac to $1,015/ac in 1997. The
decrease in damage represented significant dollar savings of
$998, $3,642, and $5,914 for the three individual orchards,"
Paul Gorenzel, Horticulturist.
Clemson
University_Clemson, SC (Robins)
"After 14 years of bird damage, this year I harvested an
additional 6-8 tons of blueberries on five acres thanks to the
Bird Gard," Walker Miller, Clemson Professor.
Rutgers
University_Mays Landing, NJ (Starlings)
"The harvest was virtually left undamaged from starlings
due to the Bird Gard... I was very pleased with it and would
not hesitate to recommend it for grape growers," Dr Gary
Pavlis.
Michigan
State Research Center_Benton Harbor, MI (Starlings & robins)
"Both the grower and I were impressed that your device appeared
to significantly lower bird pressure on this planting,"
Thomas Zabadal, Coordinator.
Cornell
University_Ithaca, NY
(Starlings & robins)
"The trials with the Bird Gard in sweet cherries were very
successful. The orchard manager indicated he harvested the
largest crop he can remember. Typically that block had suffered
40%-50% crop loss each season," Dr Paul Curtis, IPM Wildlife
Specialist.
Michigan
State Research Center_Benton Harbor, MI (Starlings & robins)
"I was particularly interested in the fact that there was
minimal damage on the non-harvested buffer blueberry bushes,
even though berries remained on these bushes until they dropped
naturally," Eric Hanson, Assoc. Professor Michigan State.
Auburn
University_Fairhope, AL (Starlings & grackles)
"Our technician was finding 10-20% damaged fruit each harvest.
Soon after we installed the Bird Gard, our percentage of bird
damaged fruit dropped substantially to 2-3%," wrote Monte
Nesbitt, Horticulturist at the Gulf Coast.
A combination
of Bird Gard distress calls and Crop Gard harassment sounds can
be effective as netting
Certenberg
Vineyards-Voca, TX
(Mocking birds) "I was very impressed
to see the Crop Gard eliminate most of our bird damage. In 1999, we
lost 5 tons of grapes due mostly to mocking birds. This year,
using the Crop Gard we reduced our bird damage by 60% -75%. I'd
be happy to recommend the Crop Gard to any grape grower for damage
from mocking birds. " Alfonse Dotson, Vineyard Owner.
Foris Vineyards
Winery-Cave Jct., OR
(Starlings, finches, flickers, & robins)
"Usually we loose 25%-33% of the Pinot Noir even with dawn
to dusk patrol and 2 propane cannons. This year we lost less
than 5 pounds of grapes," Ted Gerber, Co-Owner. The following is Ted
Gerber's cost saving comparison from 1998 to 1999 using the Bird
Gard and Crop Gard systems combined with a propane cannon: Based
on Pinot Noir getting $1380/ton and Chardonnay $1000/ton, Foris
Vineyards harvested an additional $3450 worth of grapes on 15
acres. And they saved @$2600 in labor for dawn to dusk
patrols and shot gun shells.
Manson's
Blueberry Farm--British Columbia, Canada (Robins)
I purchased your unit this spring to keep the robins out of our
blueberries. I am very happy to report that the results were
incredible. Typically we would have up wards of 20 robins at
any one time, despite the individual rows being netted. This
year we simply didn't see any robins. They were present on our
farm but not in the blueberries. After ten years of trying everything
on the market plus a lot of shotgun work, we now have a solution.--Mike
Manson
Woodward
Canyon Winery-Lowden, WA (Starlings, finches & robins)
"I am delighted
to tell you that we suffered less overall bird damage with the
Bird Gard and Crop Gard combination this year than any year previous. In
fact, the systems proved superior to the netting and cannons
we used in the past," Rick Small, winemaker.
Tyee Wine
Cellars, Corvallis, OR (Starlings, robins, & cedar wax-wings)
"This harvest
year we had zero bird damage due to the use of the Bird Gard
PRO and the Crop Gard PRO. In early
November, when we harvested the last of our grapes, we disconnected
the systems early in the morning and started picking. As we were
picking, hundreds of robins, starlings, and cedar wax-wings flew
into the vineyard. When we reconnected the systems, all the birds
immediately flew far away," David Buchanan, Owner.
Hazlitt
1852 Vineyards, Hector, NY
(Starlings)
"Two years
ago we got the Mega Pro. After the horrible 2004 season, with
many vineyards getting little or no grapes, a 3 acre section
of Reisling yielded 20 tons. Had the starling flocks been there,
we would have lost $20,000-$30,000 worth of grapes." Jack
Keller, Vineyard Manager
Sunnyside
Vineyards, Saratoga, CA (Starlings, robins)
"Wanted
to let you know I am using the PRO Combo, and it virtually eliminates
the bird problem! Excellent results! Thanks a bunch -no pun intended."
Don Leach, Owner
"Bird
control in tender fruit." University of Vermont
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