Bentley Wildfowl Reserve
Wednesday 29 August 2007
Bentley Wildfowl Reserve based near Lewes in East Sussex has been successful in keeping hundreds of predatory crows away during the breeding season by using hand held Patrol – incorporating pioneering bird dispersal technology developed by Scarecrow Bio-Acoustic Systems, based in Uckfield,
East Sussex.Attracted by the birds on site and the eggs, ducklings and goslings, the highly intelligent crows have caused on-going concerns at the reserve. However, by releasing a digitally stored crow distress call near to where the crows flock, a “danger zone” is created in the problem area and the crows panic and fly away.
Since using the portable Patrol device, hundreds of precious eggs, ducklings and goslings have been saved.Home to 125 species of birds and wildfowl, including flamingos and Cranes, the reserve is a significant breeding ground for some of the world’s most endangered wildfowl species. Breeding birds in captivity is a challenging task, especially with so many different kinds of wildfowl coming from diverse environments from around the world. However, under the care of the resident bird keepers and with regular use of the bio-acoustic technology, breeding has been successfully achieved at Bentley.
Chris Keep, Co-Director at Bentley has been using the handheld Patrol for the past 5 years; “It’s worrying to see the crows each year and if we didn’t address the situation, our breeding programme would be severely affected. We are a popular tourist attraction and maintaining a safe environment for our birds is a top priority. We use Patrol everyday and at different times to protect the young ones as well as the eggs. Using a humane and inoffensive method to deal with the crows fits perfectly with our caring bird philosophy.
”Scarecrow Patrol exploits natural bird behaviour, an innovative technique proven over many years in a variety of applications around the world to disperse and control unwanted birds. At Bentley, a harmonious environment is maintained by keeping the crows safely away without compromising the other birds and wildfowl around the reserve.Further details on Scarecrow products are available on +44 (0)1825 766363.