The short answer: Netting is the most reliable way to reduce bird damage in blueberries. Oregon State University Extension calls it the most effective exclusion method[1]. Netting is costly in materials and labor, and Oregon State says it is generally not feasible for large operations[1]. For unnetted fields, a bioacoustic system that plays real distress and alarm calls is the best-supported open-field option. It has to be species-specific and randomized, cover the whole field, and be switched on before the berries color. Expect to reduce damage, not to remove every bird. Ultrasonic devices don't work on birds[2].
We make bioacoustic systems, so we have an obvious interest in how this question gets answered. That's why every figure on this page links to its source, why netting is listed first, and why we include the research that is less flattering to sound-based deterrents.
How much do birds cost blueberry growers?
- Oregon: Oregon State Extension puts losses at about 10% to 20% of the blueberry crop. It estimates 2013 bird damage at $11.2 million for Oregon blueberries[1].
- New York: Cornell researchers assessed 12 blueberry sites and found weighted damage of 22%. That was the second-highest rate of the four fruit crops studied[3].
- Northeast: In a grower survey reported by Cornell's Dr. Marvin Pritts, Northeastern blueberry growers estimated they lose nearly 30% of their crop to birds[4].
- Michigan and the five-state survey: Michigan State researchers cite grower estimates of 2011 blueberry damage of 3.8% to 18.2% across five states. They also cite losses to Michigan blueberry growers of over $14 million a year[5].
Those numbers vary because damage varies, by region, by year, by field edge versus interior, and by how close the field is to roosting cover. Your own baseline matters more than any average. Before you buy anything, count damaged berries on edge rows and interior rows. That gives you a number to measure against.
Bird deterrents for blueberries, ranked by evidence
| Rank | Method | What the research shows | Best fit | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netting | The most effective exclusion method, per Oregon State Extension[1]. Cornell's New York fruit specialists say netting "provides best protection"[6]. | Smaller, high-value plantings where the labor pays for itself. Some eastern Washington growers net hundreds of acres[1]. | Infrastructure and labor every season. Has to be anchored, and removed in winter so snow and ice don't damage it[1]. |
| 2 | Bioacoustic distress and alarm calls | In the strongest peer-reviewed field trial (wine grapes), adding broadcast calls cut damage from 13.0% to 5.7%[7]. In 1990s Cornell blueberry trials, an earlier-generation distress-call unit worked for 7–10 days under heavy pressure, and feeding rose sharply when it was switched off[4][11]. | Unnetted acreage, large fields, and the weeks before nets go on | Birds get used to predictable sound. Playback has to be randomized and species-specific, and coverage has to be complete[1][2]. |
| 3 | Falconry | A real predator. Oregon State says it can be very effective for crops that ripen over a short window[1]. | High-value fields with a defined harvest window | Expensive, needs permits and trained staff, and is limited by weather[2]. It also only works while the falconer is there. |
| 4 | Propane cannons | They startle birds, but USDA-APHIS reports most birds get used to them at attractive sites like ripening fruit[2]. Oregon State says auditory devices typically cover 1 to 6 acres[1]. | Remote fields far from neighbors, as one layer among several | Noise complaints, local rules, and habituation |
| 5 | Visual scares (reflective tape, balloons, kites, inflatables) | Birds habituate after repeated exposure[1]. In a Michigan blueberry trial, inflatable "tubemen" produced no significant reduction in damage[5]. | A cheap extra layer, moved often | Short-lived |
| 6 | Taste repellents (methyl anthranilate) | In a Michigan blueberry trial, a methyl anthranilate spray produced no significant difference in damage[5]. Cornell trials found about 3 days of repellency on exposed fruit[4]. | Limited. Follow the label and pre-harvest intervals. | Reapplication after rain, and weak results |
| 7 | Ultrasonic devices | USDA-APHIS states they will not scare birds. Most bird hearing falls between 1,000 and 3,000 Hz[2]. | None | Birds can't hear them. |
What the blueberry research on sound actually says
Growers are right to be skeptical of sound-based deterrents, so here is the evidence, including the parts that don't help our sales pitch.
- It works while birds believe it. In Cornell trials, an early Bird Gard distress-call unit played calls every minute. It was effective for about 7 to 10 days in two high-pressure blueberry fields. Adding hawk models after a couple of weeks reduced feeding again, and feeding rose sharply when the device was turned off[4]. That is the habituation problem in one sentence.
- Predictable sound fails. Oregon State says birds learn to ignore alarm calls with predictable patterns. It recommends species-specific calls and randomizing timing, duration and pitch[1]. USDA-APHIS says birds habituate to repeated calls when no threat follows[2].
- Not every test was positive. In a one-season pilot in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, researchers counted starlings at feeding stations near dairy farms rather than measuring crop damage. Their Bird Gard site showed no usable deterrent effect. The authors noted site problems that limited what could be concluded, and a hawk kite performed best in that pilot[8].
- The strongest controlled field data is from grapes. Across nine California vineyards, adding broadcast alarm and distress calls cut damage from 13.0% to 5.7%, a 56% reduction. Netting was 2.3%[7]. Alarm-call playback also reduced damage in Australian apple orchards[1][9].
A note on these findings: Both studies tested earlier Bird Gard models. A 1997 Cornell IPM report names the unit evaluated in Cornell's blueberry work as the Bird Gard Super ABC[11], and Cornell's write-up of its blueberry trials describes the Bird Gard unit playing calls every minute[4]. The 2009 British Columbia pilot used a unit sold at that time[8]. Today's Sonic Hawk series ships with IntelliGard OS, introduced in 2025. It randomizes playback intervals, adds rest periods, and draws from 250+ species-specific sound profiles. Those changes follow Oregon State Extension's advice to use species-specific calls and randomize their timing[1]. The Sonic Hawk series has not yet been tested in a published independent trial. We'd welcome one, and we'll post the results here, good or bad.
Our takeaway, and the reason our systems are built the way they are: sound only works when it stays unpredictable and believable. IntelliGard OS randomizes call order, timing, rest periods and sequences, and draws from 250+ species-specific sound profiles. That is the design response to the habituation problem the research describes. It does not make any system immune to it, which is why we recommend layering methods.
Is a blueberry bird deterrent worth the money?
Here is a way to run the numbers for your own field, using published benchmarks.
- The value of control is high in blueberries. Oregon State Extension reports 2013 bird-control benefits in Oregon of $2,055 per acre for blueberries[1]. A five-state economic study found the benefits of bird management per hectare were highest in California blueberries ($36,851 per hectare)[10].
- Equipment cost per acre. A Sonic Hawk 500 lists at $5,150 and covers roughly 15 acres under normal field conditions. That is about $343 per acre, one time, before installation. A Sonic Hawk 100 lists at $1,695 and covers roughly 3 acres, about $565 per acre. Your coverage depends on terrain, trees, buildings and field shape, which is why we map it before quoting.
- Break-even. Multiply your acres by your yield and your price, then by the share of the crop you lose today. If a system reduces that loss by more than its cost per acre, it pays for itself. On a field losing 10% of a valuable crop, that can happen in the first season. On a field losing 2%, it may not, and we'll tell you so.
These are benchmarks, not promises. Your damage, price and coverage will differ.
Six things that decide whether a blueberry deterrent works
1. Switch on before the fruit colors
Birds build feeding habits fast once berries start to turn. Our recommendation is to have the system running before the first berries color, so birds never learn the field is safe. A system installed after flocks are feeding is playing catch-up.
2. Put speakers above the canopy
Oregon State recommends positioning speakers a few feet above the canopy for the best sound dispersal[1].
3. Cover every row, especially the edges
Cornell's New York researchers measured edge rows and interior rows separately when assessing damage[3], and Oregon State reports that cherry orchards next to woodlands took 7.7% damage, against 3.4% for orchards next to rotational farmland[1]. What surrounds a field matters. Edges next to woodlots, hedgerows, power lines and water deserve extra attention. Gaps in coverage become where the damage happens.
4. Match the calls to your birds
Oregon State notes that robins feed from the ground on lower berries, while starlings feed in the upper canopy[1]. Cedar waxwings, house finches, grackles and crows also take blueberries. A bioacoustic system works because birds recognize the calls, so the sound profiles have to match the species actually in your field. Our bird identification guide can help you confirm what you have.
5. Keep it unpredictable all season
Randomized timing, varied sequences and rest periods matter more than volume. Oregon State recommends rotating devices as well[1].
6. Layer methods
Oregon State says "the best results come from a multi-pronged approach" in most cases[1]. Nets on your most valuable rows, bioacoustics on the open acreage, and an occasional visual or predator cue is a realistic plan. Any vendor promising a bird-free field is selling, not advising.
Which approach fits your blueberry operation?
| Your situation | Where we'd start |
|---|---|
| U-pick or small, high-value planting | Netting. Add bioacoustics for the weeks before nets go on. |
| Tens or hundreds of unnetted acres | Bioacoustics across the whole field, running before the fruit colors, with extra coverage on edges |
| Some premium varieties, lots of general acreage | Nets on the premium rows, bioacoustics on the rest |
| Close neighbors or a farm stand | Bioacoustics with careful speaker placement and volume. Avoid cannons. |
| Paying a falconer every year | Compare the multi-year cost of falconry with a one-time system, and consider using both through peak ripening |
What one blueberry grower reported
A 500-acre blueberry farm that had relied on a falconer trialed Bird Gard. The grower reported a 50% higher yield in the first year without other hazing. The next year they covered all 500 acres for less than they had been paying a falconer each year. Read the full story. This is one grower's report, not a controlled trial, and yields also move with weather and markets. We share it as an example of what is possible, not as a typical result.
Where Bird Gard fits
Bird Gard has built bioacoustic bird deterrents in Sisters, Oregon since 1989. Our systems play real, species-specific distress and predator calls, and IntelliGard OS randomizes playback so birds don't settle into a pattern. Oregon State University's North Willamette Research and Extension Center has used Bird Gard in its berry research plots. See how.
- Sonic Hawk 500: a 20-speaker tower projecting up to 500 feet in every direction, roughly 15 acres under normal field conditions. Built for larger blueberry fields.
- Sonic Hawk 100: a 4-speaker system covering roughly 3 acres. Built for smaller plantings, U-picks and edges.
Both carry a 5-year parts and labor warranty. If netting is the better answer for your field, we'll tell you.
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Prefer to talk it through? Call a bird control advisor at 541.549.0205 (Mon–Fri, 7:30–4 Pacific).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird deterrent for blueberries?
Netting gives the most reliable protection where you can afford the materials and labor. For unnetted fields, a bioacoustic system that plays randomized, species-specific distress and alarm calls is the best-supported open-field option. Many growers combine the two.
Do bioacoustic bird deterrents work on blueberries?
They can reduce damage, but only if birds keep believing them. Cornell trials in the 1990s found an earlier-generation distress-call unit effective for 7–10 days under heavy pressure, with feeding rising when it was turned off. Today's Sonic Hawk systems use IntelliGard OS (introduced in 2025) to randomize playback, though they have not yet been tested in a published independent trial. That is why randomized playback, species-specific calls, full coverage and layering with other methods matter. In the strongest controlled field trial, done in vineyards, broadcast calls cut damage by 56%.
How much damage do birds do to blueberries?
Oregon State Extension estimates losses of about 10% to 20%. Cornell researchers measured 22% weighted damage at 12 New York sites. Northeastern growers estimated nearly 30% in a survey. Damage varies by region, year and field edge.
Which birds eat blueberries?
Robins, starlings, cedar waxwings, house finches, grackles and crows are common. Robins tend to feed from the ground on lower berries, while starlings feed in the upper canopy.
When should I turn on a bird deterrent for blueberries?
Before the first berries color, so birds never learn the field is a reliable food source. Keep it running through harvest.
Will birds get used to the sound?
They will if it is predictable. Randomized timing, varied call sequences, rest periods, species-specific calls and an occasional change of tactics are what keep a system working through the season.
Do ultrasonic bird repellers work on blueberries?
No. USDA-APHIS states ultrasonic devices will not scare birds, because most bird hearing falls between 1,000 and 3,000 Hz.
Sources
- Lukas, S., Clark, L., Davis, A., Sanchez, D. & Brewer, L. (2020, reviewed 2024). Nonlethal Bird-Deterrent Strategies: How to Reduce Fruit Crop Losses in Oregon (EM 9286). Oregon State University Extension.
- Seamans, T.W. & Gosser, A. (2016). "Bird Dispersal Techniques." USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series.
- Henrichs, H.M., Boulanger, J.R. & Curtis, P.D. (2013). "Limiting Bird Damage to Fruit Crops in New York: Damage Assessments and Potential Management Strategies for the Future." Proceedings of the 15th Wildlife Damage Management Conference. University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
- Pritts, M. "The Blueberry Bird Problem: Options for Control." Department of Horticulture, Cornell University. Cornell University (PDF).
- Lindell, C.A., Hannay, M.B. & Hawes, B.C. (2018). "Bird Management in Blueberries and Grapes." Agronomy 8(12): 295. doi:10.3390/agronomy8120295.
- Carroll, J., Heidenreich, C., Fargione, M. & Pritts, M. "A Perspective on Bird Damage to Fruit Crops in New York." Northeastern IPM Center (PDF).
- Berge, A., Delwiche, M., Gorenzel, W.P. & Salmon, T. (2007). "Bird Control in Vineyards Using Alarm and Distress Calls." American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 58(1): 135–143. AJEV.
- Steensma, K.M.M. et al. (2009). Efficacy of Bird Deterrent Devices in Agricultural Areas of the Fraser Valley of British Columbia: A Pilot Study. Trinity Western University, for the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the Fraser Valley Regional District. PDF.
- Ribot, R.F.H., Berg, M.L., Buchanan, K.L. & Bennett, A.T.D. (2011). "Fruitful use of bioacoustic alarm stimuli as a deterrent for Crimson Rosellas." Emu 111: 360–367. CSIRO Publishing.
- Anderson, A.M. et al. (2013). "Bird damage to select fruit crops: The cost of damage and the benefits of control in five states." Crop Protection 52: 103–109. USDA NWRC.
- Rieckenberg, R., Pritts, M. & Wilcox, W. (1997). Implementation of New IPM Technologies in Blueberries and Strawberries. New York State Integrated Pest Management Program. Cornell University eCommons.
Prices and coverage are from our product pages as of October 2026.
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