In the past month, the BCO have met with Belfountain Estates representatives twice to discuss community concerns with the use of bird cannons for the coming grape season. Our local and regional councilors hosted the first meeting at the community hall.
Belfountain Estates have committed to not using the cannons in the lower vineyard which directly faces the hamlet. They have purchased “bird squawkers”, which have been operating for the last month or so to deter birds from nesting and are placing netting over the vines. Belfountain Estates have communicated their desire to reach a reasonable solution with a goal of removing the bird cannons altogether once they have successful alternatives. We advised that the community would be more receptive as farm customers with the resolve of bird cannon issue.
The upper vineyard contains grapes which need greater protection and Belfountain Estates are intending to test bird cannons in this area during the second week of July so that the community can offer feedback on noise attenuation. The testing will be held during daylight hours during a weekday in early July. Members of the BCO will be providing feedback to the farm from various locations in the hamlet and Belfountain Estates will move and direct the bird cannons to make the least impactful amount of noise. The bird cannon season runs from mid-August until October, so this effort is being made in July to investigate placement and direction alternatives to dampen effects prior to the grape season.