Automated laser bird repellents successfully solve bird problems after a few months of use at a vegetable farm in
Queensland, Australia. Since adopting the laser as a bird deterrent solution and reducing bird presence by 100%, the
farm saves around 50,000 AUD on bird damage each year.Innovative bird control method
Koala Farms grows crops on over 500 hectares across two locations in Queensland, one farm is located in the town of Gatton and the
second farm is located in the town of Cambooya. Their crops were severely affected by Australian wood ducks eating the
vegetables, as a result of increased duck migration. The farm lost around 50,000 AUD to birds each year.
In 2019 Anthony Staatz, owner of Koala Farms, discovered about the AVIX Autonomic Mark II through E.E Muir & Sons, an Australian partner of Bird Control Group, manufacturer of the laser bird repellents based in Delft, the Netherlands. AVIX Autonomic Mark II is a laser bird
deterrent that projects a green laser beam across a field of crops, posing as a threat to the birds and deterring them
immediately. After a successful demonstration, Koala Farms decided to purchase the laser bird repellents. The farm now
covers two of their areas with 4 units of AVIX Autonomic Mark II.
The laser bird deterrent system proved to be a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for the farm. Mr. Staatz says:
“The laser bird repellent is a humane alternative to dealing with the duck problem. It has great functionality, with the
accessibility to program the green laser beam to move across the crops in a pattern that suits our specific locations.
It saved us time, knowing we can sleep at night without waking up to acres of the product destroyed by the wood ducks.”Bird damage across Australia
According to the Department of Primary Industries, bird damage is a significant problem in Australia with the total damage to horticultural production estimated at
nearly 300,000,000 AUD annually. Over 60 different bird species are known to damage horticultural crops. These species
have marked differences in feeding strategies and movement patterns that impact the nature, timing, and severity of the
damage they cause.
Another reason for the bird damage across Australia is the increase in duck migration. This increase has occurred due to
climate and habitat changes, and lack of ample food supply. Another reason is ducks trying to locate breeding grounds,
which are usually large areas of land close to water[1]. Farmlands are ideal locations for breeding. They contain an abundance of food. Therefore, farmers find it challenging
to deter birds in an effective and sustainable way.