Abstract
Abstract An “eye‐spotted” beach ball and a commercially available deterrent eye‐spot ball significantly reduced the number of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) visiting a bird table to feed. The commercial ball had a greater deterrent effect than the beach ball at all four distances tested (10, 20, 30, and 40 m). The deterrent effect of both balls decreased with distance from the table, and was neglible at c. 40 m. Deterrence was increased 10% by illuminating the eyes with a rotating halogen light and by reinforcing the visual stimulus with alarm calls of blackbirds (Turdus merula), house sparrows, and starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), but declined with continuous use, and disappeared altogether after 9 days. Eye‐spot beach balls in a vineyard significantly reduced landings by song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) for 2 weeks, and landings by blackbirds, house sparrows, and starlings for 3 weeks. They failed, however, in the fourth week when the grapes were fully ripe and most in need of protection. Eye‐spot balls are environmentally friendly, so could be especially useful bird scarers in organic vineyards and near residential areas.
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