Eden Valley Vineyard: £20,000 Annual Savings with AVIX Autonomic Laser Systems

A 40-acre vineyard in Eden Valley, South Australia, faced severe crop losses during harvest season. Rosellas, crows, and galahs descended on the property at sunrise and dusk between January and May, attracted to ripening grapes. The bird pressure resulted in yield losses reaching 25% annually, creating a significant financial impact on the operation.

The vineyard had previously invested in bird netting to protect their grapes. However, this traditional method proved both ineffective and expensive. Despite spending over £20,000 each year on netting, substantial crop losses continued. The physical barrier failed to adequately deter the persistent bird activity, with thousands of birds still accessing the vines and damaging fruit during the critical harvest period from January through May.

The ongoing losses and ineffective protection prompted the vineyard owners to seek a more reliable and cost-effective bird control solution that could cover the entire 40-acre property.

Two years ago, the vineyard implemented automated laser bird deterrent technology, installing two AVIX Autonomic Mark II systems to provide complete coverage across the 40-acre site. The decision to adopt laser technology was based on its proven effectiveness in agricultural settings and its ability to operate continuously during the high-risk sunrise and dusk periods when bird activity peaked.

The AVIX Autonomic Mark II systems offered several advantages over the failed netting approach:

The impact of the AVIX Autonomic laser systems was immediate and sustained. Bird presence decreased by 85%, with numbers dropping from thousands to approximately 300 birds. This substantial reduction in bird pressure directly translated to protected crop yields.

The vineyard has maintained these results consistently over two years of operation, demonstrating the long-term effectiveness of the AVIX Autonomic technology in preventing bird habituation.

The Eden Valley vineyard’s experience validates laser technology as a practical solution for agricultural bird control. By achieving an 85% reduction in bird damage whilst eliminating the recurring costs of ineffective netting, the AVIX Autonomic Mark II systems proved their value as a long-term investment.

The case demonstrates how automated laser bird deterrents can transform crop protection in viticulture. The combination of immediate effectiveness, sustained results over multiple seasons, and substantial cost savings positions this technology as a viable alternative to traditional methods that fail to deliver adequate protection.

For vineyards facing similar challenges with bird damage during harvest season, the Eden Valley results provide evidence that laser deterrent systems can protect yields, ensure economic viability, and deliver measurable return on investment.