Though the kestrels are encouraged to nest near the vineyard’s borders via nesting boxes the winery maintains, Budd says, “they are wild birds and we exert no control over them.” American Kestrel over Gamble Family Vineyards / Photo courtesy Gamble Family Vineyards At Chateau Grand Traverse in Traverse City, Michigan, kestrels, which are North America’s littlest falcons, “keep damage to our grapes caused by flocks of birds, mostly starlings, at a minimum,” says Jay Budd, assistant vineyard manager. Though the training never ends, Rosen notes that “training an animal to do something that it naturally wants to do is so much easier.”įalcons’ natural inclination to act as aggressor to smaller birds comes in handy at vineyards who don’t have a falconer on payroll. Rather, he acts as a deterrent, one who knows his work will be rewarded with frozen birds his handler has waiting for him. For the past several years, their ambitions have been largely thwarted as E.B., another of Rosen’s falcons, swoops menacingly overhead.Į.B., whom Rosen calls the “employee of the month,” isn’t looking to kill or do real harm to the grape-obsessed starlings. “The birds sit on those lines and then fly down and have a tasty snack on our grapes all day long,” says Kajani. Barbie the Barbary Falcon flying over Bouchiane Vineyards / Photo by Tyler Sladenīouchaine’s 87 planted acres lie beneath telephone wires-a prime perching spot for starlings. Conditioned, trained and managed by Rebecca Rosen of Authentic Abatement, these birds of prey adeptly control the area’s problematic pest population. Kajani is, however, immensely grateful for the work of Bouchaine’s falcons. She’s not a fan of Mylar streamers or fake predator birds, either. Bird cannons, intended to scare away grape-nibbling birds, simply don’t work, says Chris Kajani, winemaker and general manager of Bouchaine Vineyards in Carneros. Some grape growers, including those who cultivate fruit for organic wines, eschew pesticides and man-made pest control methods. Barn Owl at Tres Saborres vineyard / Photo courtesy Tres Saborres Many vineyards keep these intruders at bay through the dedicated, instinctual service of owls, falcons, bluebirds and more. Once they’ve ripened for harvest, vineyard grapes are quite tasty, attracting peckish birds and other animals such as voles or rabbits. She is one of several winemakers quick to praise birds’ inherent ability to protect and sustain the land. Julie Johnson, who owns and operates Tres Sabores on the westernmost edge of Napa Valley, has been welcoming barn owls since 1987.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |