A VICTORIAN blueberry grower is finding success in the battle against pest birds using lasers.
John Benson's farm is located at Cherokee, Victoria.
Mr Benson started using an AVIX Autonomic Laser in 2016 to stand up against voracious Rosella parrots.
The situation before the laser was sobering: without netting, the birds would damage most of the crop.
By installing the laser system six weeks before harvest, Mr Benson saves more than 65 per cent of his blueberries from birds and has less issues with contamination of fruit.
The presence of birds poses a serious risk to a company's reputation as they are often the cause of contamination to stock, the manufacturing process, and the health and safety of the employees.
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Australian company, Bird Beam Laser Bird Control Systems, recently highlighted that the most concerning health risks come from bird droppings because they are a place for disease organisms to grow as the droppings are high in nutrients.
The feathers and debris that build up over time from birds roosting can bring external parasites, which can cause health risks for employees.
The timely removal of bird droppings adds to the labour and maintenance program and budget.
According to Bird Beam, most traditional protection methods fail as birds become accustomed to them.
"Gas guns are noisy, shooting is expensive and labour intensive, nets need maintenance and are inhumane, poisoning is illegal," the company said.
"Once the green laser beam is projected, it will disperse birds immediately.
"Installation of an automated bird control tool is a biosafety measure that can help both growers and food-processing facilities save time and be more cost-efficient."
The need for vigilance against bird damage comes as the Australian horticulture industry faces high demand for domestic fruits and vegetables to support the population spending more time at home during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Bird Beam's Michelle Kerr, said birds are one of the biggest threats to the Australian horticulture sector, causing severe crop losses each year,
"In Australia, bird damage to horticulture is estimated at nearly $300 million annually," she said.
"Pests, such as birds, have become a challenge for the food industry as they can harbour over 40 different types of parasites and can be the host for over 60 infectious diseases.
"Protecting crops from birds is extremely important to meet the growing demand for fruits and vegetables.
"Right before the harvest, birds fly down and peck on the vulnerable plants and then begin to roost in the area.
"Although this is most common during the ripening period, it can also happen during sowing and seedling stages."
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