August 17, 2012

Categories: Blueberries, Cherries

During the months Roy Farms fruit begins to ripen, Vahe’ Alaverdian, owner of Falcon Force LLC. Professional Bird Abatement Services (www.FalconForce.com) is hired to fly his raptors throughout our fruit crops and deter the nuisance birds from wanting to feed on the fruit (for example, starlings & sparrows). Falcon Force uses natural predator/prey relationship to discourage birds from feeding on fruit by instilling fear that they may be attacked by a much more powerful bird. This is much more effective than the screamers, booms, cannons and streamer flags used by many orchards and vineyards. Each raptor flies 2-6 times per day and Vahe’ uses a lure made of a tennis ball, a pigeon wing, and a length of cord that allows him to make the lure fly fast enough to be hunted by a Peregrine!

The 2 year old male peregrine falcon, Shaman, who he is flying in this picture is equipped with a radio telemetry tracking device on his back.