On The Up: Laser bird deterrent saves Hawke’s Bay kiwifruit orchard from gull invasion

The AVIX Autonomic laser keeps the birds off the overhead net in Hastings.

As more than 600 gulls descended on a Hawke’s Bay kiwifruit orchard , Simon Horsfall could have easily been in a scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

Horsfall works at a 60-hectare kiwifruit orchard owned by Ngāi Tukairangi Trust in Hawke’s Bay.

He uses overhead nets to keep his kiwifruit safe from hail and wind.

And that is where the trouble began; 600-plus gulls decided it was a great sanctuary every night.

The result was bird droppings contaminating the crop, fruit damage and serious hygiene concerns during harvest season.

In short, a total nightmare.

“The ... netting gave them a roof,” Horsfall said.

“It was costing me tens of thousands in lost fruit and cleaning efforts.”

Frustrated by traditional methods, Horsfall knew the solution must be out there, so he partnered with local bird control expert Michael Krause.

Krause introduced him to the AVIX Autonomic Laser Bird deterrent, sold by the Dutch company Bird Control Group.

This is an automated, environmentally friendly solution using green laser beams to scare birds away without harming them.

The principle of laser bird deterrents is inspired by nature.

Sight is the most developed sense in birds, and they perceive laser lights on the green spectrum like physical objects.

When the laser moves toward the birds, it triggers their natural fight-or-flight instinct, causing them to flee.

Once the system was installed strategically throughout Horsfall’s orchard, there was a significant drop in gull numbers within days.

Over time, the gulls’ nightly visits ended.

“The laser changed everything,” Horsfall said.

“It was immediate, effective and far more sustainable than netting or other deterrents.”

Horsfall estimated substantial savings from reduced fruit loss, lower cleanup costs and improved harvest quality.

“Michael’s local support and the Birds Control technology made this possible,” he said.

“It’s not just a tool, it’s a game-changer.”

With increasing scrutiny on the limitations of bird netting in New Zealand, growers are looking for alternative solutions, such as laser control.

The system used by Horsfall has already been adopted in more than 100 countries worldwide and is gaining traction in agriculture, airports and industrial zones for its efficiency and eco-conscious design.

As climate conditions change, so does bird behaviour, making crop protection more important.

A laser bird deterrent could be an innovative solution to a safer working environment for growers and their crops.

Correction: This article previously said Simon Horsfall was the owner of the Hawke’s Bay orchard and that birds were one of the reasons he set up the nets to protect the kiwifruit. The information provided to us was incorrect and has been amended.