Where there’s feed on the farm, birds usually follow. These nuisance pests aren’t only an eyesore, but they can cause real damage in terms of feed loss and biosecurity risk.
For pigeons, starlings and sparrows, grain piles, commodity bays and feedbunks quickly become an all-you-can-eat buffet. In fact, a flock of 10,000 birds can consume up to 500 lb. of feed daily. While these critters certainly aren’t a new problem for dairies, a newer technology has emerged that may offer another way to manage bird pressure. And the interesting part? It involves laser beams.
A New Approach to Bird Control
The system, developed by iChase, uses cameras to identify birds in the area. Once a bird has been spotted, a green laser beam slowly sweeps across the ground, walls or feedbunk to spook the bird away. Because poultry rely heavily on their eyesight, the moving laser looks to them like something solid getting closer. Their instinct is to fly away from it.
According to the company, the system can be installed above feedbunks or mounted on farm structures to help discourage birds from gathering. As the laser repeatedly moves through the same spaces, birds begin to view the area as unpredictable and uncomfortable. Eventually, many avoid the area altogether.
The idea is similar to other deterrents producers have tried over the years, but the constantly moving light is designed to be harder for birds to get used to. Traditional approaches like predator decoys and reflective tape can work at first, but birds often adapt once they realize the threat isn’t real.
Another feature that helps the technology stand out is coverage. iChase states that a single unit can cover a large area, which may make it useful in places like silage bunkers or commodity barns where birds tend to gather.
Interest in the technology has also grown outside of dairy. Airports and warehouses have also used laser deterrents to reduce birds in sensitive areas. As the equipment becomes more available, agricultre companies are starting to explore how it might fit into other livestock operations as well. As farms continue looking for practical ways to protect feed and maintain cleaner facilities, tools like these are starting to draw interest.
