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Best Bird Repellent for Wine Grapes

Grapes hanging on vine

All farmers understand the importance of protecting their crops. Along with that, comes the understanding of nature’s threats. Wine grapes provide a sweet fruit for humans and birds too. Birds are quick to feast on wine grapes just as they become ripe.

As a grape grower, you know that every fruit counts. While fermenting wine, having more wine grapes is better than less. During this process, it’s important to protect every grape – especially from birds. If birds are becoming a concern, there are several options to help protect your vineyard.

Bird Netting

Bird netting

Bird netting is a great way to repel birds from your wine grapes. The netting will cover the plants so that birds cannot get to the fruit. However, installing a bird net can be a very sizable installation process which is a crucial step of this tactic. 

Bird netting is only effective when installed correctly. This tactic can be costly especially for larger vineyards, but this method will be successful in the long run. 

Tip: Be sure to hang the netting high enough so that birds can’t reach your grapes through the holes in the netting.

Related: Tips for Wine Grapes

Scare Tactics

There are plenty of products on the market that can help you to deter birds from your wine grapes. Most of these options are relatively low cost and simple to install. Some include:

    • Pyrotechnic products. These products create loud cannon like noises to scare birds off.
    • Holographic bird tape. Reflective surfaces can frighten birds. Mylar tape, film or sheets can scare birds off. Other reflective materials include old CD’s, windchimes or pinwheels that you can repurpose to deter birds. 
    • Scare-eye balloons. The design of these balloons replicate the features of a predator bird to scare other birds off your property.
    • Statues or scarecrows. Similar to the balloons, replicas of predators can help deter birds with fear.

Keep in mind, you’ll need to move these items around often. Birds will begin to realize that these devices are not a threat.

Alternative Food Sources

Bird hanging and eating

Instead of having birds feed on your fresh harvest, place alternative food sources for them to feed. Placing bird feeders filled with fruit, seeds or grain can attract birds to the outskirts of your property far away from the fresh fruit. However, this does run the risk of attracting more birds to your property if they discover the wine grapes. To avoid this, try setting up the feeders as far from the fruit as possible.

Related: Prepare for Wine Growing Season

Paper Bags

Grab some paper bags and a stapler. As wine grapes are nearing their final ripening stage, cover each grapevine with a bag and staple it closed. It’s important to only try this tactic during the ripening stage to avoid interrupting the growing processes. 

Depending on the size of your land, this can potentially be a time consuming process to cover each crop. If it rains, you’ll also want to check the paper bags for damage.

Liquid Bird Repellent  

Unlike many other approaches, bird repellent is the only way to get rid of birds for good without using a combination of different tactics. It is important to use a repellent that is safe for use around humans as well as other animals. 

Avian Control is a liquid bird repellent that will not cause harm to your crops or the environment. Not only is it effective but this treatment costs as little as $12.50 per acre! When it comes to the best bird repellent for wine grapes, look no further than Avian Control.

Related: Protect Your Wine Grapes With Liquid Bird Repellent

If you are interested in learning more about how Avian Control can help you reduce your crop losses this year, call 888.868.1982 to take back control of your vineyard!

Best Bird Repellent for Wine Grapes