CA2821932A1

CA2821932A1 - Bird scaring device and system for using

Info

Publication number: CA2821932A1
Application number: CA2821932A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Steve Wambolt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-29
Filing date: 2013-07-29
Publication date: 2015-01-29

Abstract

A device for scaring birds comprising a remote controlled aerial device having lights and sound system. Also described is a system for using the aerial device to scare birds.

Description

BIRD SCARING DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR USING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for scaring birds comprising a remote controlled aerial device having lights and sound system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The presence of birds in certain locations has in certain circumstances created a hazard or presented an unwanted creature that can impart economic damage.
For example the presence of birds on or near the vicinity of airports and airbases has for many years presented a danger to aircraft. To reduce the hazard of bird strikes on aircraft there have been many devices and methods utilized in order to scare birds away from the vicinity of aircraft. One such method includes the use of live birds of prey, which scare unwanted birds away from aircraft.
Another example of where birds are unwanted are in agricultural fields such as vineyards or the like where the birds peck away at the fruit and plants and create economic damage.
By way of another example it is not uncommon for high buildings such as skyscrapers or the like particularly ones which are predominantly made of glass to present an obstacle for birds flying into such buildings many of whom die and collect at the bottom of said buildings.
Geese and seagulls are a particularly problem when they inhabit or frequent public beaches. These birds carry many parasites and other diseases which pose a health risk to humans.

It would be of advantage to have an improved bird-scaring device which is easy to assemble and use, and which would not itself create a new hazard, such as that by using live birds of prey in the vicinity of the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the invention there is described a remote-controlled aerial device (such as a DJI Flamewheel 550 Hexi-Copter) further comprising a system of lights and sound speakers and a system for using.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by reference to the following drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a photograph of a remote controlled aerial device according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, there is a shown a remote controlled aerial device 2.
In this example, the aerial device 2 is a DJI Flamewheel 550 Hexi-Copter, with Landing skid and GOPRO Camera Gimble mount. This particular aerial device 2 has been chosen due to its operational characteristics created by its 6 electric brushless motors attached to 10 inch propellers. The aerial device 2 has the following specifications but it will be understood that any remote-controlled aerial device could be used together with a comparable lighting system and sound system:
Wingspan: (circular configuration) 26 inches

2 Takeoff Weight: 9 Pounds Material: Carbon fibre Skid, Carbon fibre Camera Gimble and Carbon fibre Blades. Arms, Plastic Propulsion: 6 (six) electric brushless motors Propeller Diameter: 10 Inch Motor Battery: 2 x Lithium Polymer (14.8V, 6Ah, 2 pounds) Pilot Control: Standard RC Control - 2.4 Ghz range Control Surface Actuators: High Power Digital RC Servos Landing Gear: Carbon Fibre Skid Colour: Black Estimated Max Speed: 5 knots Estimated Min Speed: Hover (Gps Lock) Estimated Max Flight Time: 15 Minutes Additions: Mp3 Player, Speaker(s) (securely fastened using 3M tape and tie wrap) Payload Go-pro 2 camera Wireless 5.8Gz video transmitter and antenna Naza GPS System and GPS Compass 1 x 10 inch LED Light strip across top (red, green, blue and white) 1 x 11 volt 830ma Lipo battery to power the wireless transmitter 1 x strobe light (2 inch diameter)

3 1 x 9volt battery to power strobe lx 14.8 volt 6000ma MAIN BATTERY
1 red and 1 green led marker lights.
lx MP3 Player and speakers The aerial device 2 includes a light system comprising one or more 10 inch LED

red, green, blue and white light strip 4. The light strip 4 is shown on the top of the aerial device 2 but it could be placed in any suitable location. The light strip 4 is ideally placed so that it can be seen at any angle by the birds.
One or more strobe lights 6 (2 inch diameter) is shown. The strobe light 6 can flash at a rate of 60 times per second, causing birds to become disoriented.
The strobe light 6 is located at the front center of the aerial device 2.
The aerial device 2 also includes LED marking lights 8, typically one red light and one green light.
One or more speakers 10 are securely fastened to the aerial device using 3M
tape and tie wrap. The speakers play sounds of predator birds and also include a siren circuit that makes siren noises as well as gunshot noises.
A "waffle cone" 12 or dome-shape is also used for added noise effects. The waffle cone 12 breaks the sound coming from the rotors and, by moving the aerial

4 device 2 from side to side, a "swooshing sound" is created which has been found to be scary for the birds.
A camera (not shown), such as a GOPRO, can be incorporated with the aerial device 2 to provide a visual record.
In operation, the remote-controlled aerial device 2 will be used in a low flying operation for the purpose of "scaring" geese and seagulls off a beach. The aerial device 2 will be flown over the beach along the waters edge at a maximum height of 65 feet but preferably between 5 to 25 feet to scare off any geese or seagulls.
Both the lighting system and the sound system would be operated to both disorient the geese and to create the impression that the aerial device is an actual predator.
Once the birds become airborne, the aerial device 2 would be used using a random pattern until the birds leave the beach area.
For the next 3 hours the aerial device 2 would be flown randomly at a low altitude near the waters edge or in the general direction of geese or seagulls if they start to return.
This system of scaring birds could be repeated as desired.
It has been found that this systematic approach will give the birds the idea that the aerial device 2 is a predator and that they should keep away.

In addition, a small ground support vehicle could be used as an added deterrent to drive on the area that the birds that the birds just left. This vehicle would include a light system and sound system.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A remote-controlled aerial device for scaring birds comprising:
(a) a plurality of lights affixed to the aerial device;
(b) one or more speakers affixed to the aerial device.

2. The aerial device according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of lights are LED light strips.

3. The aerial device according to claims 1 or 2 where the plurality of lights include LED marker lights.

4. The aerial device according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the lights are operated in a defined pattern.

5. The aerial device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 where the speakers are used to project the sounds of predator birds, sirens, gunshots or other sound effects.

6. A system of scaring geese using the aerial device as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising the steps of:

(a) remotely controlling the aerial device to fly in a pattern at a height of 1 to 65 feet over a target area where birds are found;
(b) operating the lights to create a disorienting effect for the birds;
(c) playing sounds of predator birds, sirens, gunshots or other sound effects through the speakers to scare the birds.

7. The system of scaring geese as defined in claim 6 wherein the aerial device is flown at a height between 5 to 25 feet.

8. The system of scaring geese as defined in claims 6 or 7 whereby the aerial device is flown for an initial period of 3 hours repeated as necessary.

9. The system of scaring geese as defined in any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein the aerial device is flown in a pattern along the edge of a beach or in the general direction of the birds.