Farmers understand risk better than most.
Weather, pests, labour, disease - there are plenty of variables you can’t control. That’s why tools like crop insurance exist: to reduce the financial impact of the things you can’t prevent.
But when it comes to bird damage, the situation is different. You can prevent the loss - but only when action is taken early.
And that’s exactly why bird control is a lot like crop insurance. It’s most effective when it’s put in place proactively - before the birds arrive and before the damage begins.
Bird Damage Adds Up Fast
Birds don’t just take a few berries or a handful of cherries and move on. Their impact compounds and results in
-
- Direct crop losses
- Quality downgrades
- Spread of rot and diseases
- Increased stress around harvest
For many growers, bird damage becomes just another seasonal “cost of doing business”
But it doesn’t have to be.
Growers who invest early in prevention consistently report stronger yields and less stress at harvest.
Proactive Bird Control = Higher Return on Investment
The earlier deterrents are in place, the stronger the effect. Birds are highly habitual - if your orchard or vineyard becomes a known feeding site, they’ll keep coming back and bring their friends.
By putting bird control in early, you:
-
- Set your crop up as a non-feeding zone
- Stop flocks forming behavioural patterns
- Reduce pressure during peak ripening
- Minimise the scale and cost of control later
Like insurance, the benefit is in acting before the problem.
Why Waiting Costs More
Many growers wait until ripening to react - but by then:
-
- Birds have already found the crop
- Populations may be established
- Damage can be immediate and severe
Reactive control is always more expensive and less effective.
Early control is cheaper, calmer, and far more successful.
Choosing the Right Tools
No single solution works everywhere - which is why a tailored approach delivers the best results.
Effective strategies include:
| Solution | Best For | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Netting | High-value blocks / export varieties | Physical exclusion, strongest protection |
| Automated Lasers | Orchards & vineyards | Non-harmful deterrent, works autonomously |
| Bioacoustic Systems | Mixed bird pressure zones | Targets multiple bird behaviours |
| Visual Deterrents | Early-season conditioning | Cost-effective pressure reduction |
The key is selecting methods that match bird species, block layout, and crop value.
The Bottom Line
Bird control isn’t just a cost. It’s a yield protection strategy, that will have a direct impact on your bottom line
You insure your crop because it’s valuable.
You protect it from birds for the same reason.
Proactive bird control helps ensure the crop you grow is the crop you harvest.
Ready to Protect Your Yield This Season?
We help growers select the right bird control strategy for their site with solutions that are proven, effective, and designed to last in NZ conditions.
