See under pest birds.
Certain bird species such as thrushes (blackbirds), pheasants, partridges, sparrows and starlings target the sweet grapes during the ripening period from August or the start of the grape harvest and can cause a considerable reduction in yield. Bird plagues in vineyards have been described since ancient times and are still a worldwide problem today. In spring and summer, however, they can be desirable as insect eaters and therefore beneficial insects. In extreme cases, very large flocks of up to 10,000 birds or more can occur, especially in the case of starlings. If such a flock of birds settles on a vineyard, it is "harvested" in a short time.
As a negative side effect, damaged or pecked berries favour the penetration of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi and thus the occurrence of grape rot. Various measures are taken to prevent this or limit the damage. The former use of avicides (pesticides) is now severely restricted or even prohibited. As a substitute, "deterrents" (repellents) are used, which are perceived by the sense of smell but do not kill. This also includes physical methods. A relatively costly method is to cover the vineyards with nets. Care must...
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