BIRD SHIELD
A product for the management of birds in orchards and vineyards.
Bird Shield is a product registered for management of birds on table grapes, stone fruit (peaches, plums, nectarines and cherries) and blueberries. It also can be used on cereal grains, sunflowers, turf and ornamentals, structures and non-fish bearing bodies of water. See our label and MSDS of the product.
How Bird Shield Works:
Bird Shield is a product that prevents damage in the field by altering the behavior of the bird. Birds do not like the taste of the active ingredient of Bird Shield.
* When applied to fruit directly the birds do not like the taste and will not feed on the fruit.
* When applied to the birds where they roost the birds will leave the area of roosting.
* When applied to non-fish bearing waters the birds will not drink the water.
Bird Shield works by disturbing the birds where they eat, sleep and drink.
Where Can Bird Shield Be Applied:
Bird Shield can be applied to manage birds in the following places:
| 1 - |
Where the birds feed.
Apply Bird Shield directly on the fruit to prevent bird feeding.
Bird Shield does not stain or damage fruit.
Bird Shield does not make fruit inedible or taste bad. |
| 2 - |
Where the birds roost.
Apply Bird Shield onto the birds as they roost next to your vineyard or orchard.
This can be roosting trees, power lines or structures.
After Bird Shield is sprayed the birds will move another area. |
| 3 - |
Where the birds drink.
Apply Bird Shield onto the non-fish bearing water the birds drink from. |
Birds need to eat, roost and drink to survive. Use Bird Shield to disturb them in each area so they do not damage your crops.
Answers to common questions about Bird Shield:
| 1 - |
How long will Bird Shield last?
Bird Shield breaks down in ultraviolet light. In strong summer light Bird Shield will be active for 5 to 7 days in direct sunlight. |
| 2 - |
Is Bird Shield rain fast?
Yes! Bird Shield will not wash off in the rain. |
| 3 - |
Does Bird Shield leave a taste or odor?
Yes! Bird Shield has a Concord grape smell. Bird Shield has a taste birds do not like. The taste and odor lasts for 5 to 7 days after application (one way you can tell if the product is still working is by the grape smell in the field). |
| 4 - |
If Bird Shield has a taste and odor can I spray it on my about to be harvested fruit?
Yes! You just need to apply Bird Shield 5 to 7 days before anticipated harvest so the odor and taste have worn off by the time you harvest. |
| 5 - |
Will one application of Bird Shield be sufficient for my crop?
Maybe. If the birds return before you have finished harvesting you will need to retreat. Remember the “scouts” of the flock are always searching for new food sources. Once the Bird Shield has worn off the scouts may return and find your fruit desirable again.
Therefore if you have an extended harvest period schedule you may need to apply Bird Shield between picks so you can keep your fruit protected. In some short pick interval crops like blueberries this may not be possible. Each crop and situation needs to be evaluated individually. |
| 6 - |
Can I mix Bird Shield with other products?
Yes with three exceptions!
Calcium: Do not mix Bird Shield with foliar Calcium nutritional products!
Mixing Bird Shield with foliar Calcium nutritional products will result in fruit and foliage damage.
CALCIUM SHOULD NOT BE MIXED WITH BIRD SHIELD OR CROP INJURY WILL OCCUR!
Do not spray Bird Shield on a tree/vine until all of the foliar Calcium has been taken up by the plant. Usually that takes 3 days after a foliar spray under normal growing conditions. Wait 24 hours after a Bird Shield application to apply a foliar Calcium product.
Also Nu-Film P (a sticker spreader product) interferes with the taste of Bird Shield and thus renders it ineffective as a bird repellant. There are no phyto toxic issues with Nu-Film P and Bird Shield.
Always jar test compatiblities of products. When in doubt contact California Ag Supply or apply a small test area before applying the mixture throughout the field.
Do not mix Bird Shield with Ethrel on table grapes.
The two products combined may produce leaf burn when the mixture dries.
Bird Shield can be applied before or after Ethrel but not with Ethrel. |
| 7 - |
If Calcium is a problem then is hard water (calcium carbonate in the water) a problem?
No! Also you can apply Calcium sprays before or after the Bird Shield but not with Bird Shield.
Also Bird Shield needs to be mixed with water when applied to crops. Do not apply undiluted Bird Shield.
No! Also you can apply Calcium sprays 24 hrs after the Bird Shield but not immediately before or with Bird Shield.
Also Bird Shield needs to be mixed with water when applied to crops. Do not apply undiluted Bird Shield. |
| 8 - |
What birds will Bird Shield repel?
All birds. It is not species specific. |
| 9 - |
At what rate do I apply Bird Shield?
We have found applying Bird Shield at 1 pint to 1 quart per acre works best. Be mindful of the amount of water that is used to apply Bird Shield. When applying very dilute rates of Bird Shield the efficacy of the product may be affected. Apply Bird Shield with only enough water to cover the fruit. |
| 10 - |
Can Bird Shield be used on certified organic crops?
No! Bird Shield is not organically certified. |
| 11 - |
Do I need to spray the fruit or just the foliage with Bird Shield?
You need to spray the fruit! The birds eat the fruit. That is where they will taste and then start to eat. Make sure your spray rigs get good coverage on the fruit. Bird Shield will not stain or spot your fruit. |
| 12 - |
What do I need to provide the County Agricultural Commissioner with when applying Bird Shield?
You need to have the use of Bird Shield on your monthly use report. The product is not restricted. Posting is not necessary/ Notice of Intent is not required. |
General Overview of Bird Life:
Birds have a similar pattern they follow each day.
At night they sleep in their roost areas. Roost areas can be trees, power lines, buildings. They rest at night so they can eat your fruit in the day.
If you use Bird Shield to disrupt the place of rest (roosting) then the birds will be forced to move on to a new location. Hopefully the new location will be away from your orchard or vineyard. Birds usually do not roost where they eat.
Early in the morning the scouts of the flock go out to search for food sources. You will see these scouts in the orchard/vineyard early in the morning. The scout will approach a piece of fruit, stick out its tongue, at taste the fruit. If it tastes good that is registered with the scout and they take that information back to the flock.
If you use Bird Shield to make the fruit taste bad the scout will also register this and take that information back to the flock. Like humans, birds do not eat what does not taste good. Even after applying Bird Shield you may see scouts (3 to 9 birds) in the orchard/vineyard but you will not see the whole flock there until the Bird Shield wears off.
Still in the morning the scouts return to the flock. They tell the flock where the good food source is. The flock “gravels up” (this means they ingest gravel to assist with their digestion) and heads out to eat.
If you used Bird Shield the flock is headed somewhere else to feed. If you did not use Bird Shield they may be coming to your orchard/vineyard.
During the day the birds will drink and will take a midday break. Birds usually eat early in the morning and again late in the afternoon.
You can use Bird Shield on the non-fish bearing water they use for drinking water. Again you can disrupt the birds with Bird Shield in their midday roosts. The more you make life difficult for the birds the more they will seek out another place.
Successful use of Bird Shield is dependent upon putting the product in the correct place at the correct time. For assistance with and to purchase Bird Shield in Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern Counties contact California Ag Supply at:
Info@californiaagsupply.com
Or call/FAX Tom at 559-221-7954 or mobile at 559-281-5411.
The following links are to the Label and MSDS for Bird Shield.
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