Vinnet

Bird damage prevention: How to stop birds from destroying your grape harvest
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The effects of bird damage on grapes can be devastating, costing farmers up to R30 000 in damage per hectare.
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The birds’ beaks and claws pierce the fruit, leading to fungal infections such as Botrytis, degradation of the fruit, bacteria, and an influx of insects and mealybugs that are attracted to the oozing juices.
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For wine farmers, the rot and degradation of the grapes will ultimately impact the flavour and quality of the wine. Without effective bird protection measures, a viticulturalist could lose up to 50% of his annual harvest.
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Problem birds in South Africa:
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According to a document released by the Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, there are a number of identified ‘problem’ bird species in South Africa. These birds are the main culprits when it comes to crop damage.
Typical problem species include:
• The Cape white-eye (Zosterops virens)
• The African red-eyed bulbul or black-fronted bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans)
• The olive thrush (Turdus olivaceus)
• White-backed mousebird (Colius colius)
• Red-faced mousebird (Urocolius indicus)
• Speckled mousebird (Colius striatus)
• The Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus)
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These problem species generally thrive in forests and woodlands near to the vineyards, and enjoy snacking on the ripening grapes every year.
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Innovator of the Vinnet, Johan Montgomery, says that the entire vineyard may not need Vinnet netting. Depending on the environment, just the blocks closest to the bird populations would need major protection during critical periods.
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