Types of Bird Netting for Vineyards and Wineries

When it comes to getting the right flavor for your wine, you know how important it is to plant your grapes in nutrient-rich soil with plenty of sunshine. As you worry about the growing process and getting the flavorful wine that you want, you don't want to have to worry about another element: birds. A few years back, an owner of a large vineyard found that birds caused him to lose $742 worth of grapes per hectare, which resulted in over $1 million in production. In order to prevent the loss of product, you can use netting from Bird B Gone to prevent birds from getting to the grapes and destroying the flavor of the wine.

Let’s look at the types of birds that are the cause of all the trouble. The main ones to keep your eyes open for include the blackbirds, gray finches, house sparrows, starlings, or silvereyes. The moment you see any of these birds hovering around your vineyard, it's time to take action and get one of the following types of netting for your grapes:

Extruded

Extruded netting is made from a versatile polymer, black polypropylene. It's lightweight and UV protected. Look for ones that have a mesh size of at least 3/4-inch. Depending on the type of birds at your vineyard and the size of their beaks, you can install it under, around, or over your vineyard. For smaller birds, you may want to add a layer of mesh under the netting.

Knitted

Knitted netting is made from a high-density polyethylene monofilament, which makes it a great option for heavy-duty needs. It's stronger and more durable than the extruded netting. It's flame resistant and heavy duty, so it will effectively prevent birds from landing or nesting in your vineyard. It's easy to install, and it's light enough that it won't harm your grapes.

Knotted

Similar to knitted netting, knotted netting is made from a high-density polyethylene monofilament. The difference is that the twine gets knotted during the manufacturing process, increasing the strength and durability of the netting. In fact, each strand has over a 47-pound knotted breaking strength. Because it's so effective, it's one of the best options to use for commercial vineyards.

Industrial Strength

Beyond the extruded, knitted, and knotted varieties, you can also choose to purchase industrial-strength netting. These ones are typically made from a polyethylene mesh and 6 monofilaments with industrial strength. It offers UV stabilization, and it's rot-proof, waterproof, and flame resistant.

Think about your vineyard. Think about the types of birds that live around it. Think about the thickness, weight, shading, and type of material that would be best for your grapes. Then, contact Bird B Gone. We can answer your questions and help you determine the perfect choice to meet your netting needs and keep the birds away. On top of that, the right netting will help prevent flavor damage to your wine.