Preventing feeding damage with bird prevention nets

Bird netting is the most reliable and effective bird prevention measure

In general, the most reliable and effective measure against damage to crops caused by wild birds is to completely cover the crops with bird nets※1).

It may be obvious, but recent verification of the effectiveness of bird-prevention nets in suppressing waterbird intrusion in lotus fields has confirmed that the effect of covering the entire surface with bird-prevention nets※２).

If bird nets are not used, lotus root damage by wild birds will be even more serious.

Three-dimensional bird nets are the mainstream in lotus fields

In the lotus fields around Kasumigaura, poles are erected around the fields, and ceiling nets and side nets are drawn in and stretched using wires and reinforced plastic fiber cables. ” is the mainstream.

Ceiling net

For ceiling netting, diamond-shaped knotted netting of 10 to 12 cm per side and 1,500 to 2,400 denier is mainly used.

The main color of net yarn is black.

Side net

For the side nets, diamond-shaped knotted mesh with a side of 7 to 12 cm/1,500 to 3,000 denier is mainly used. A small mesh (about 2 to 3 cm per side) raschel net is sometimes used for the side net, which also serves as a windbreak.

The color of the net thread is mainly black, and some of it is also used as cucumber net.

Other bird prevention nets

Direct net/covered net

This is a type of netting that is used by spreading the netting directly over the lotus leaves or by covering a simple support with the netting.This type of net is used under extremely low tension.

For direct nets and covered nets, knotted net with lozenges of approximately 3 to 4.5 cm per side/400 to 1,000 denier is used. The color of the net thread is usually orange or blue (maybe the dye is cheap?).

Up until now, it has mainly been used in fields, but due to recommendations from nature conservation organizations, it has been used in lotus fields for several years. It is a disposable net that is very cheap and easy to use, but has extremely low weather resistance.

Bird control lines

Although it is limited, there are some cases where bird-proofing lines, which is used to prevent crows in fields, is being used in lotus fields.

What is the effect of lotus fields...?

Prevention/avoidance measures other than bird nets

In addition to bird nets, other pest control and repellent measures have been proposed, such as using drones, sound waves, and light beams to scare away birds, but even if they are effective, they are thought to be limited.

Considering the scope of application, usage environment, cost, and economic efficiency, this is not a realistic measure at this time.