Apple grower makes an anti-bird call to Bracks

By Dion Teasdale
A YARRA Valley orchardist is calling on the State Government to invest in the trial of an innovative audio bird-deterrent system.
The call comes as apple and pear growers across the valley suffer heavy stock losses due to an invasion of musk and rainbow lorikeets.
Gruyere orchardist, Andrew Rieschieck, would like the State Government to pay for a full trial of an audio bird deterrent, known as the Phoenix Wailer.
He has made the call after the State Government announced last month that it would invest in Yarra Valley trial of a experimental spray deterrent derived from grape seeds.
Mr Rieschieck, who has lost more than 10 per cent of his fruit stock to lorikeets since January this year, is currently conducting a trial of a Phoenix Wailer audio bird deterrent on his 150-acre orchard.
The trial, using a series of speakers and a programmed sonic generator, began in late March and Mr Rieschieck believes the Phoenix Wailer should be put on the table as another possible solution to the lorikeet problem.
The Australia distributor of the Phoenix Wailer, Bill Johnston, said the system uses programmed sonic recordings of problem birds to frighten them.
“The Phoenix Wailer is unique in that it sends out sounds of a particular species of bird experiencing alarm and distress to warn that species away from the area,” he said.
“There are other audio deterrents available but this is the only one that uses actual recordings of the birds causing the problems.”
Mr Johnston said the Phoenix Wailer was a Canadian invention that had been used successfully across a wide range of application overseas and in other parts of Australia.
He said a full trial of the system, costing about $20,000, could take place from December this year through to the end of April next year.
Mr Rieschieck said he decided to fund a small trial of the Phoenix Wailer after other tactics to deter the lorikeets failed.
He said that despite using netting and trying to cull the birds, some areas of his orchard had been devastated with up to 100 per cent of stock lost.
“I’d really like to see the State Government sponsor a full trial of the audio system,” he said.
Evelyn MP, Heather McTaggart, said she would be happy to discuss the trial of the Phoenix Wailer with Mr Rieschieck and Mr Johnston. “This is the type of innovative and alternative initiative that the Government is keen to look at,” she said.