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Quiet Effective Bird Scaring
Helikites and Hawk Kites
How Helikites Work
Helikite

INSTINCTIVE BIRD SCARING

Lightweight Vigilante

Birds are instinctively scared of hovering objects

Effectiveness:

  • Huge areas controlled. Up to 10 Ha. (25 Acres) with one Helikite.
  • Wild hawk predators constantly reinforce natural fear.
  • No shooting required!
  • Works 24/7 to keep bird pests away.

Silent:

  • No complaints
  • Environmentally Friendly

Cost Effective:

  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to maintain
     


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After millions of years of constant hunting by hawks, eagles, falcons and kites, nature has ruthlessly selected for survival only those birds who are terrified of objects hovering threateningly overhead. BIRDSCARING HELIKITES exploit this fear better than anything else because the flying object has no need to be hawk-shaped, it just needs to fly, and move high in the sky for the desired effect. Only Helikites fly with or without wind up to 200 feet high.

Bird control has always been a hit or miss affair, with old fashioned scarecrows or even the more modern propane canons and sonic wailers giving very variable protection, making it impossible for farmers to rely on them for long to counter expensive and often crippling crop losses. Birds are unpredictable and planning for them is very difficult. The scientifically designed, patented Helikite is the first and only bird control system that really works well over a long period of time because wild birds find it extremely difficult to overcome the innate terror of predatory hawks that Helikites create. Real hawks reinforce this fear, so habituation is very unlikely. If you have a difficult bird problem the powerful Helikite is probably the only scaring system really capable of protecting your livelihood.

SILENT BIRD CONTROL

    With the Helikite angry neighbours, frightened livestock, and visits form the by-law officers are things of the past. Noise is not required for effective bird control. Sight is the major sense in birds and so they are affected far more by the correct visual stimulus than by anything they hear - just like the human fear of snakes and spiders. You can fly a Helikite next to populated areas where noisy propane canons or sonic wailers would cause objections. Helikites can fly unattended, 24/7. They work in the early hours when the birds are actively feeding, unlike propane canons that usually have a morning time restriction. Local people will appreciate your concern for them and environment. You will get a better night's sleep as well! Silent control is unique to the new Helikite and it makes bird scaring feasible in many previously impossible situations - like pig or cattle operations, in grain stores or near homes. Humane to all, and safe - no explosive gas. The revolutionary Helikite allows bird control where none was possible before.

FULL FARM PROTECTION, AT 1/4 THE COST

    The unique Helikites can fly at great heights (up to 60 metres). This enables them to be seen over hills or hedges and to have excellent bird scaring ability over vast areas - far more than is usual with any other method. A Helikite is inexpensive to buy. You can buy four for the average price of one propane canon or wailer. This will save you hundreds of dollars and the vast coverage of each Helikite means that you can afford to protect the entire area of your vulnerable crops. Are you fed up with putting an expensive squawk box at one end of the field only to see the birds feeding at the other end? Then total bird control using economical Helikites is for you.

Check out your own bird-control situation against our unique acreage chart. Depending on the type of bird and the food value of the crop the area protected by one Helikite varies. This is common to all bird scarers. The following table shows the acreage of protection over which the Helikites have proven to be effective against wild birds. This chart might change slightly over time as we obtain new information from farmers or scientists especially in North America, but as far as we know, it is the only such chart in existence. We are always interested in any bird scaring data you have, please call.

Type of Bird Crop Type Acres Covered
(1ha = 2.5acres)		 Comments
Rooks / Crows Emerging Cereals 15

Unrivalled Bird-Control Experience And Data

Check out your own bird-control situation against our unique acreage chart.
Depending on the type of bird and the food value of the crop the area protected by one Helikite varies. This is common to all bird scarers. The following table shows the acreage of protection over which the Helikites have proven to be effective against wild birds.

You will not see a chart as detailed as this from any other bird scarer manufacturer.
They may prefer to give you vague promises of the area protected by their scarers. We prefer quantitative, observed data. Helikites control more than twice the area of most scarers. This chart might change slightly over time as we obtain new information from farmers or scientists, but as far as we know, it is the only such chart in existence.

Laid Cereals

 15
Landfill Sites 1-6
Farm Buildings 5
Pig / Cattle Units 2-5
Drilled Maize 10-15
Strawberries 10
Wood Pigeons Oilseed-Rape 20-25
Emerging Cereals 20-25
Peas 20
Young Cabbages 15
Beans 15
Laid Cereals 15-20
Drilled Maize 15-20
Starlings Cherries 5
Fruit Crop 5
Strawberries 7
Farm Buildings 1-5
Cattle Units 1-3
Small Birds Grapes 3-5
Bush Crop 3-5
Strawberries 3-5
Comorants Fish Farms 10
Rivers 400m
Local Geese Oilseed-Rape 25
Grass Cereals 20
Grackles Fruit Farms 5
Rice 10
Seagulls
Terns		 Landfill Sites 1-6
Building Sites 2
Migratory Geese Grass 30-50
Cereals 30-50
Pheasants Woodland Edge 1-5
Herons Fish Farms 10

Compare this feature's chart before you buy!

Vital Bird Scarer Features Helikite Propane Banger Sonic Wailers Flashing Scarers
Controls up to 25 Acres YesYes No No No
Very low habituation Yes No No No
Reliable on starlings/ crows Yes No No No
Reliable near animals / silage Yes No No No
Silent - no complaints Yes No No Yes
Works over hills and hedges Yes No No No
Can work at night Yes No Yes No
Easy to set up and move around Yes No Yes Yes
No breakable moving parts Yes No No No
Costs from less than $300 to buy Yes No No Yes
Costs under $12 / acre Yes No No No
Reliable where birds have started eating Yes No No No
No Battery required
(that can be stolen)		 Yes -No No No

Comparative Bird Scarer Research

In scientific trials, Helikites and traditional kites have always outperformed other bird scarers.

University Field Trials
In 1981 and 1982 at Reading University, Fazlul Haque.A.K.M. and Broom.D.M. showed that traditional delta kites gave virtually 100% control of pigeons on spring cabbages when operated with dedication. They state, "Damage in fields with a gas banger exceeded that in fields with a kite, especially in severe winter weather."

% of Severe Damage
1981 (Mild Winter)
1982 (Severe Winter)
Unprotected
Banger
Kite
Unprotected
Banger
Kite
14.7%
1.3%
0.6%
14.7%
14.7%
1.3%

The damage done to the kite field occurred only when the kite could not be flown. The two scientists also tried humming line but found it to be ineffectual.

They summarise by saying:
"Our extended trial in 1982 suggested that pigeons do not habituate to a kite over periods of at least three months and hence it seems that a kite can be a better means of controlling wood pigeon damage."

It was obvious from this trial that the limitation of traditional kites for bird control was not their ability to scare birds, but rather their inability to stay in the air for long and their need for frequent re-launching. This is why the first Allsopp Helikite was invented in 1993. Helikites fly in no wind and re-launch themselves automatically after rain. This greatly extends the time possible for bird-control and almost eliminates maintenance.

European Field Trials In 1998 a European Community trial was done in Ireland comparing all methods of bird control. The bird problem there is so acute that winter peas had been virtually abandoned and pigeon damage alone halved Irelands potential pea tonnage for many years. Helikites proved to be the most reliable bird scarer.

Their summary states:
"The Allsopp Helikite was found to be highly effective in reducing pest damage in two studies carried out by the Kildare Pest Control Group in Ireland. The Helikite was installed on two sites; 9 and 2.5 hectare fields of combining peas. Prior to installation, the incidence of pigeons was monitored at a constant average of approximately 9 pigeons per hectare. This was reduced to zero by the presence of the Helikite at both sites. During the 25 and 28 day intervals respectively between installation of the Helikite and the harvesting of the crop, no habituation to the device was observed at either site."

For more details, please click on the following Model specific line:

For more details, please click on the following Model specific line:

Lightweight Information - takes you to our main HeliKites Site

Vigilante Information  -  takes you to our main HeliKites Site

Bird Control Brochure - PDF

  

 



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