A macadamia farm in northern New South Wales was facing significant crop losses due to persistent cockatoo activity. The birds were damaging nuts before harvest, leading to reduced yields and financial strain.
"We’ve been seeing more and more cockatoos as the years have gone on. It’s both white and black cockatoos’ said Ryan. ‘They arrive as the nuts start to size properly and then continue to come back until shells harden. Even then they know which varieties are thin shelled, like our 816 and A16s, then they start to focus on them... The black cockatoos also come and chew the tips of the flush as well as eat the nuts before they mature."
The objective was to implement a humane, scalable bird control system that could:
- Deter cockatoos without harming them
- Operate autonomously
- Adapt to changing bird behavior and prevent habituation
The farm deployed the Birdzout Bioacoustic 8S Octi, a powerful bird deterrent system.
The system was strategically placed in the center of the orchard, elevated on a tripod for optimal sound dispersion. The team selected sound libraries specifically targeting cockatoos and programmed the unit to operate during peak bird activity hours.
"The sound libraries we have selected only seem to deter the cockatoos, the other birds in the orchard aren’t deterred by the sounds."
Within days of installation:
- Cockatoo presence dropped dramatically across the orchard
- Crop damage was reduced by over 80% during the critical pre-harvest period
- The farm reported improved yield and reduced labor costs associated with manual bird control
- The randomized sound strategy proved effective in maintaining long-term deterrence without habituation
"Highly recommend this product. We have had cockatoo problems in our macadamia orchard for years, and as soon as the repeller was turned on you could instantly see and hear how upset it made them. Only one month on and there are no cockatoos feasting on our nuts!!"
The Birdzout 8S Octi became a key part of the farm’s integrated pest management strategy, offering a reliable and humane solution to a persistent problem.
Ready to stop birds before they stop your harvest? Explore how Birdzout’s smart bioacoustic systems can protect your crops. View Birdzout Bioacoustics
Original Article: https://marquis.com/bioacustic-bird-repeller/
