Pyrotechnics and Bird Control
Last month propane cannons, this month pyrotechnics. Isn’t there anything new and exciting in bird control? Well, in keeping with my attempts to discuss relevant information, I would like to review another tried and true trio this month: Bird bombs, bird whistlers and shellcrackers.
Bird bombs are projectiles fired from a hand-held pyrotechnic pistol. The user will insert the bomb into the pistol, insert an ignition cap, cock the hammer, aim the pistol in a safe direction (skyward) and then pull the trigger. The bomb will travel 40 to 70 yards (depending on the wind) and then explode. The explosion is similar to the sound delivered by a propane cannon, or 2-3 times louder than a shotgun blast. The advantage in using a bird bomb is the user’s ability to place the explosion in the midst of a group of approaching birds. If you haven’t tried this in your vineyard, you should.
Bird whistlers are projectiles fired from the same hand-held pistol that fires the bombs. They are loaded and fired in the same manner. The difference is that a bomb goes “boom” and a whistler goes.... well, you get the picture. There are advantages to mixing up bombs with whistlers. You may encounter a group of birds who have just successfully fed in a vineyard with propane cannons that the grower never moved. The birds have habituated to things that go bang, and will need some additional persuasion to leave your place. The whistlers may be just what you need.
Shellcrackers are projectiles fired from a 12-gauge shotgun. They are loaded just like a shotgun round and are fired in the direction of a group of birds. They will travel 75 to 100 yards and the blast is somewhat louder than the bird bomb delivers. The primary advantage shellcrackers offer is that they may be mixed with live rounds to further discourage birds. Of course you need to make sure you’re shooting at a non-protected species if you’re going to use live rounds as well. Don’t put a lot of effort into killing a bunch of robins - it may cost you a lot of time and money.
Having said all this, it is important to discuss two things. First, pyrotechnics are dangerous. They can be a fire hazard when used irresponsibly and are a health hazard when horseplay enters into the broad arena of bird control. Serious injury is possible, so don’t get any ideas about “giving ol’ Phil a good scare.” It’s not worth the trip to the hospital.
Secondly, they can be an extremely effective deterrent. The key is to begin using these devices before you actually experience any losses. Hungry birds that have already been feeding happily in your vineyard are going to require a lot more effort than birds that haven’t had any experience with this type of control.
A recurring theme in bird control also holds true with pyrotechnics. Change where you shoot them and spice up your vineyard with some additional control techniques. Remember “visual cues” from last month’s column? You need something the birds can see - flashtape, scare eye balloons - something for them to associate the shooting with. Then you don’t need to be in the vineyard every spare moment. Approaching or returning birds that have been shot at see the visual cues and assume that they will be shot at again. This principle is so vital to bird control that I mention it month after month in this column.
Beyond that, there are no other frills. The beauty of pyrotechnics is that they are inexpensive and easy to use. Most importantly, begin thinking about your vineyard bird control plan now - you won’t have much more planning time before it starts to get busy.
Next month, the legalese of birds, gophers, rabbits and any other vineyard pest we can think of.