John Dufour says he has a solution to the need for bird scaring devices.
By Tania Martin
A YARRA Ranges man believes he can solve the region’s bird problem without the introduction of a controversial electronic bird scaring local law.
For the past three year Yarra Ranges Council has been struggling to find a solution to the problem.
But John Dufour believes he has the answer.
This comes as the council last month deferred its decision on the bird scaring device law.
At a meeting on 23 February, councillors unanimously agreed more time was needed for further research into the environmental impacts of the devices.
The Mail reported earlier this month the new law, if approved, would restrict farmers using the devices within 300 metres of a residential property.
At the meeting environmentalist raised concerns over the lack of research into the impact of the bird scarers.
Councillors also agreed to put a decision on hold until new Environmental Protection Authority guidelines were released.
The guidelines released last week also include restrictions on scare gun or devices being used within 300 metres of a complainant’s house.
The number of gun blasts per day has also been capped at 70 and must not be used earlier than 7am or later than sunset.
Mr Dufour has been trialing a new product which he believes will be just the thing to scare off the birds.
He was asked to design a new product to keep birds away from vegetables and flower gardens more than 12 months ago.
Mr Dufour said the mirrored star bird scarer was in the middle of a two-year trial. It has been tested in Phillip Island, in Western Australia and some Melbourne suburbs such as Altona and Taylors Lake.
“All the feedback we have had show results are good, all are noticing much betters crops due to the scarers,” Mr Dufour said.
The scarer is a three-sided mirror on a base which can sit in the middle of vegetable patches or in fruit orchards.
“When the birds come down they see their reflection in the mirror and take off,” Mr Dufour said.
“It’s a very basic concept but it works.”
Mr Dufour is now offering farmers a free trial of the product during the next fruit picking season. “Hopefully, it will work,” he said.
Mr Dufour is calling for farmers who are interested to contact him on 5966 9519 prior to the next season to set up the trial. Residents can now have their say on the new EPA guidelines, which are now available for public comment until 26 March.
