6 2 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T
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M a y - J u n e 2 015
w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m
Raptors
for Bird
Abatement
ony Soter makes exqui-
site Oregon Pinot Noir
that sells for more than
$50 a bottle. Suffice it to
say, the grapes for his Min-
eral Springs Ranch Pinot
Noir are, in his words, "not
feed corn." That's why for
the past three harvests,
j u s t b e f o r e t h e g r a p e s
reach ripeness, Soter has
called in the falcons.
Using falcons to scare
the bejesus out of maraud-
ing flocks of starlings, rob-
ins and finches is just one
weapon in an arsenal of
aural and visual offenses
meant to drive away rav-
enous, grape-loving birds.
Employing propane can-
nons, Mylar balloons and
strips, kites and shotguns
works better than the tradi-
VINEYARD
OWNERS SEND
IN THE FALCONS
Kort Clayton of Airstrike Bird Control uses falcons to keep feathered pests away from vineyards.
BY
SUSAN G. HAUSER
