UFV1-230x92Researchers at the University of the Fraser Valley may have the key to helping farmers prevent birds from eating their berry crops – without resorting to the blueberry cannons that have been driving their neighbors nuts.

UFV Agriculture professor Tom Baumann has been doing some research into using unmanned drones disguised as hawks or some other kind of predator to scare off the starlings.

Baumann says the drones will not only be quieter than cannons, they should be more effective because birds get used to the cannon schedules.

“These drones are going to fly at irregular intervals and they will not fly all the time. They will actually fly maybe five or six times a day.”

Baumann says the hope is to come up with an automated system to make it affordable.

“We know from other areas, other countries with hawk looking model airplanes, they’ve done this already and it works. So we know the concept is right, what we’re most concerned about is that it flies by itself and doesn’t need an operator.”

Baumann says they’re trying the drones out this year and hope to have them ready to go for next season.