Top 7 Benefits of Orchard Bird Netting

From magpies to kookaburras, bird sounds are a familiar part of living in Australia. But for commercial orchard owners, birds bring more than just melodies -- they bring headaches. Pest birds damage fruit, spread disease, and eat into profits. This can be a nightmare if you're trying to run a business.

Luckily, there's a proven solution that turns this frustration into a problem of the past: orchard bird netting installations.

In this article, we'll explore the top seven benefits of orchard netting and why it's a must-have for commercial orchards.

1. Reduce Fruit Damage

Birds such as crows, starlings, honeyeaters, and mynas are common in Australia, and they can quickly add up to be a big problem for orchards. They wreak havoc by pecking at your fruit and leaving a large amount of product damaged and unsellable, causing thousands of dollars of damage in a short space of time -- especially during peak growing season. This chews through your overall profit margins and decreases the yield of your orchard.

When properly installed, netting creates a barrier that keeps unwanted birds out, while still allowing enough sunlight and air circulation for fruit to grow. This means more of your product remains untouched and market-ready, which translates into more dollars in the bank. In many cases, you can quickly cover the initial cost of the netting installation by reducing fruit damage and increasing yield.

2. Protect Your Trees From Long-Term Damage

Birds don't just attack your fruit -- they can also have a major impact on your orchard's trees. Running an orchard can be difficult at the best of times, with razor thin margins and unpredictable yields. The last thing you need is birds causing damage and impacting the overall health of your trees, which reduces the amount of crop they produce. Once you add up the lost productivity across multiple years, tree damage can have a devastating impact on the profitability of your orchard.

Unlike other pest control methods, netting provides ongoing protection throughout the growing season. It prevents birds from damaging delicate branches, buds, and developing fruit, so your trees remain healthy and productive. Bird netting benefits your orchard by protecting both your immediate harvest and the long-term health of your trees.

3. Compliance with Agricultural Standards

For commercial orchards, following agricultural and food safety standards is a non-negotiable. Contaminated fruit can pose serious health risks to consumers and lead to costly regulatory issues. Birds are a major source of contamination; their droppings can carry harmful bacteria and pathogens and they can spread disease by leaving half-eaten fruit behind.

Bird netting offers a straightforward solution to this problem. By keeping birds from entering your orchard, you drastically reduce the risk of contamination. This means your fruit meets the high standards required for commercial distribution. You'll be able to adhere to agricultural standards and keep your reputation in-tact, while minimising the risk of fines or relationship damage with your distributors and retailers.

4. Reduced Pest Management Costs

Traditional bird deterrents like sound devices, scarecrows, and chemical repellents can provide temporary relief, but they often lose effectiveness over time. Plus, many require expensive upkeep. If you run a commercial orchard, these expenses can add up quickly and become untenable for your business in the long run.

Orchard bird netting, on the other hand, is an investment that provides long-term protection with minimal maintenance. High-quality orchard netting systems for pest prevention are built to withstand the elements and, when properly installed, can last for years. This will save you time and money while providing better results, as it removes the need for other pest control methods.

5. Support for Sustainable Farming Practices

As consumers become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their food, sustainable farming practices are more important than ever. Bird netting is a humane, eco-friendly pest control method that aligns with these values.

Unlike chemical repellents or lethal traps, bird netting doesn't harm wildlife. Instead, it simply creates a barrier that encourages birds to seek food elsewhere. By adopting sustainable practices like bird netting, you can improve your relationship with the local community and appeal to eco-conscious consumers.

6. Adaptability to Unpredictable Weather

Depending on where your orchard is located, your trees may have to withstand hot sun, strong winds, and hail storms -- sometimes all in a single day. Unpredictable and highly variable weather can be a serious threat to your crop.

High-quality, UV-resistant netting does more than keep birds away -- it also provides some protection against harsh weather conditions like frost, hail, and strong winds. By investing in durable netting, you can safeguard your crop and make your orchard more productive throughout the year.

7. Customised Netting Solutions for Your Orchard

One of the biggest advantages of bird netting is that it can be tailored to your orchard. After all, no two orchards are the same, and one-size-fits-all approaches rarely work. Regardless of whether you own a medium-sized orchard or a large-scale commercial operation, netting can offer you a flexible and affordable fix.

When implementing a tailored bird netting solution, you'll be able to consider the size and layout of your orchard, as well as the specific challenges you face. You'll get full coverage with no gaps or weak points, giving you the most efficient and cost-effective solution with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations.

Protect Your Crops with a Custom Orchard Bird Netting Installation

If you're ready to stop pest birds from causing havoc, Melbourne Bird Solutions is here to help. Reach out today to get a quote for a custom netting solution, including professional netting installation for orchards. With over five years of industry experience and thousands of nets installed, we're committed to helping you protect your crops and maximise your yields for the long term. Plus, if you find a cheaper option, we'll beat it by 10%!

Are birds causing issues elsewhere on your property? Check out our anti-bird spikes or explore other commercial bird netting solutions.