As another migration season approaches, farmers are turning to technology to protect their livestock from increasing biological threats. Mike Michalski, with Migratory Bird Management, is helping dairy producers and crop growers deploy specialized lasers to deter birds like geese and gulls.
Unlike traditional noisy deterrents like propane cannons, the laser system is silent. It harnesses the unique biology of a bird’s eye. While humans see a simple light beam, birds perceive the specific wavelength as a looming physical object. This triggers an immediate flight response without harming the animal or bothering neighbors.
“The birds see the entire wavelength of the laser… as the laser is approaching them, they see the beam as a physical threat,” Michalski explains.
The technology is becoming a critical tool in the fight against avian flu. By randomizing the laser’s path, Michalski ensures that birds cannot habituate or “get used to” the light, providing a long-term solution for acreages and barn interiors.
“Our solution is strictly making the birds fear and flight,” he says. “We’re not looking to harm the birds, we’re just telling the birds to move on to a different situation.”
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