Bird pressure on Australian farms is expensive. Industry figures put horticultural losses above $300 million a year, with another $200 million spent on prevention. When growers look for active deterrence, two tools come up often: fixed laser systems and bird-scaring drones.
What lasers do well
Lasers project a moving beam that many species treat as a physical threat. They can run for long hours with little labour once installed, and they work quietly. That makes them useful on sites where continuous overnight coverage matters and staff are thin on the ground.
Where lasers struggle
Birds can learn that the beam never touches them. Coverage is usually a fixed cone or scan pattern, so roosts and shelter belts outside that footprint stay comfortable. Dust, fog, rain and bright daylight can cut effectiveness. Near public roads or neighbours, dazzle risk and local rules need a careful look.
What a bird-scaring drone adds
A mobile platform goes to the birds. It pairs a multi-rotor with the Screecher sonic payload — distress and alarm calls chosen to push birds off the crop, not just a few metres sideways. Flight paths can be randomised and matched to your property, which helps slow habituation. The Avian Scout flies roughly 25 minutes per battery, coverage up to about 80 hectares per flight, and operation in up to 30-knot winds and light rain.
Practical take
Lasers and drones are not always either/or. Many sites use static deterrents for background pressure and a drone when flocks settle, fruit colours up, or a roost needs clearing. If you already fly Avian Scout, SmartHangar can automate docking, charging and launch for repeat missions — useful when bird pressure is daily, not occasional.
Choose on footprint, labour, weather, and how fast birds learn your current kit. If you want a walk-through against your block layout, talk to Bask Aerospace.