On The Up - Laser Bird Deterrent Saves Hawke’s Bay Kiwifruit Orchard from Gull Invasion

Added 7 days ago

When more than 600 gulls descended on a Hawke’s Bay kiwifruit orchard, it looked like a scene from The Birds.

Simon Horsfall works at a 60-hectare kiwifruit orchard owned by Ngāi Tukairangi Trust. The orchard uses overhead nets to protect fruit from hail and wind, but the nets also provided the perfect nightly roost for hundreds of gulls.

The flock brought with it fruit contamination, crop damage, and serious hygiene concerns during harvest season — costing tens of thousands of dollars in losses and cleanup.

Searching for a better solution, Horsfall teamed up with local bird control specialist Michael Krause, who introduced him to the AVIX Autonomic Laser Bird Deterrent, developed by Dutch company Bird Control Group.

The system uses moving green laser beams to trigger birds’ natural flight response, safely driving them away without harm. Within days of installation, gull numbers dropped dramatically, and before long, the nightly visits stopped altogether.

“The laser changed everything. It was immediate, effective, and far more sustainable than other methods.”

The technology has brought significant savings through reduced fruit loss, lower cleaning costs, and improved harvest quality. Already used in over 100 countries across agriculture, airports, and industrial sites, laser bird control is gaining traction in New Zealand as a sustainable alternative to netting.

As climate change alters bird behaviour, innovative solutions like laser deterrents are offering growers an effective way to protect crops and create safer working environments.