Bird Scarers
Code of Practice
Auditory bird scarers have been used in agriculture and
horticulture for many years as a method of reducing damage to
crops.
Two main types are in use:
(i) explosive – which use propane gas or a
cartridge to cause a loud explosion, and
(ii) amplified sirens or recorded distress
calls.
Both types make a noise which is likely to be heard over a wide
area, with the potential to cause disturbance to local residents.
The explosive type give rise to the majority of complaints.
Effectiveness of Scarers
All bird scarers can become familiar to birds over time and
lose their effectiveness. To help avoid this, they need to be
regualarly moved and used with other methods to scare birds and
protect crops.
- Use non-audible scarers wherever possible
- Use other protection techniques where practicable eg netting,
patrolling
- Use acoustic scarers, only when there is an actual risk of
damage to crops
- Pay careful attention to siting of scarers – allow at least 200
metres from the nearest house
- Arrange to direct the sound from the scarers into the area to
be protected, and away from houses, by using simple baffles such as
straw bales
- Limit the number of scarers at a single location – allow at
least 100 metres between scarers
- Control the frequency of explosions to a maximum of four
firings per hour. Multiple firings from a multiple chamber gun
count as 1 firing if heard within 30 seconds.
- Do not use auditory scarers between sunset and sunrise
- Do not mount explosive scarers at high level
Bird Scarers and the Law on Noise
There is no specific national legislation on the use of bird
scarers, but we have a duty under the Environmental
Protection Act 1990 to take action against a person who creates a
noise nuisance. Failure to comply with a notice served under that
Act may result in a prosecution, and the possibility of a heavy
fine. An individual householder is also able to take their own
action in respect of a noise nuisance.
This webpage was updated on
12/22/2011