Bird Netting in Vineyards - PA Wine Grape Growers Network

Bird Netting
In Vineyards
Alice Wise &
Libby Tarleton
Cornell Grape Research Program

Why are birds a problem?
• Eat the crop – why? It is a low
level food source with very little
nutrients.
• Peck the fruit – cause wound
sites that lead to problems with
fruit flies, sour & bitter rot,
botrytis
• Impact fruit quality
• Costs associated with fruit loss

What birds are a problem?

Potential Problem Birds

• Presence or absence of
other varieties
• Vineyard size
• Distance to perching
sites
• Landscape/habitat
• Weather
• Migration patterns –
impact from climate change
Vineyard Variability
Severity of bird damage varies

Bird Control Options

Bird Netting since 1980’s

Vertical Shoot Positioned Canopy
VSP
Primary training
system on Long Island.
Fruiting wire ~ 30” high
2-3 pairs of catch wires
Canopy 6-7 ft. high
Narrow but well-filled
canopy.
Fruit zone exposed for spray
and light penetration

Standard Net
extruded black
plastic with
¾” mesh
14’ & 17’ widths
5000 ft. rolls
OK for very low to
moderate pressure
Cheapest net
available

Different Types of Net
Fine Mesh
Wildlife Control
Technologies/Conwed
16 - 19 mm
1/3” square
17’ width

Gintec ProGuard
Gintec Shade Technologies
originally shadecloth
11% shade
~ 4 x 7 mm mesh
2.6’ & 3.3’ width
3000 ft. rolls
hooks on catch wires
bottom fastened
w/zip ties

Damage to Gintec nets
at LIHREC

Gintec Fine Mesh
Gintec Shade Technologies
10-15% shade
3 x 3 mm mesh woven
2.5 ‘ width
3000 ft. rolls
Same attachment protocol
as standard Gintec

Vineside®
Donaghys/Gale Pac.
6% shade
15 x 14 mm square
mesh, knitted
2.74 & 4.29’ widths
1650’ rolls
fastened w/twist ties
or staples

Windbreak Plus®
Gale Pacific
~ 3 x 3mm
38% shade
3.28’ width
164’ roll

PermaNet®
Gale Pacific
5 x 7 mm
1/3” square
Est. 7% shade
4’ width

Tightloch®
Spec Trellising
5 x 5 mm square
mesh, knitted
2.6’ widths 1650’ rolls
fastened at top
w/hooks or zip ties
bottom with twist or
zip ties

Tek-Knit
Tek-Knit
(Canada)
5x5 mm square
mesh, “locked”
2.6’ widths 1200’
rolls
Attach same way
as Tightlock

Merlot Bird Damage 2005 through 2008
90
80
70
% Bird
Damage
60
50
40
30
20
10
standard
standard w/spacers
Gintec
Vineside
Vineside EZ 10
Gintec Proguard
0
2005 2006 2007 2008

Side Netting Pros and Cons
1. Provides good results, but the net
has to have lock stitch technology
(increases the cost)
2. Easy to apply
3. Can store in vineyard
4. Labor savings in catch wire lifting
w/early application
5. Also help keep out other wildlife:
raccoon, opossum, fox, deer etc.
1. Need to open net for
shoot and cluster thinning
2. Labor intensive to tie net
at top and bottom.
3. Hard to fruit sample
4. Difficult to repair

Windbreak Plus, Gintec fine mesh,
PermaNet, Tightloch and Tek-Knit
All fine mesh with lock stitch technology. So far provided good
protection in both replicated and observational plots.
Birds learn – will they
eventually figure out
these fine mesh nets?
Expensive – but worth the
cost?
No ripening or disease
concerns thus far
LIHREC – std. net vs. Windbreak Plus

Damage to
Windbreak Plus
nets at LIHREC

Bird Netting - Cost
Fruit Zone or
over the row
Width
Cost/acre
Vineside® Fruit zone 1.3m 1650. (2009)
Windbreak Plus® “ 1.0m 3550. (2005)
Gintec fine mesh “ 0.8m 5250. (2007)
Gintec ProGuard® “ 0.8m 1746. (2009)
PermaNet® “ 1.2m
0.8m
2277. (2013)
2200. (2013)
Tightloch® “ 0.8m 2200. (2013)
Tek-Knit® “ 0.8m 2800. (2012)
Standard fine mesh OTR 18ft 1100. (2007)
Standard OTR 17ft 1574. (2009)
*Based on 8ft rows

Summary
• No silver bullet –
multiple strategies
• Companies are coming
out with new designs –
side net with small mesh
size and lock stitch
technology at a better
price (lighter net).
• We continue to
investigate new netting

Spacers

Thank you
NY Wine & Grape Foundation
Long Island wine industry
Gintec Shade Technologies
Donaghys / Gale Pacific
Michael Schmidt, Spec Trellising

Questions?