The community of Belfountain seems to be suffering from a large amount of noise recently. You will have been hearing gun shots from 7:30 am – 8:30 pm every five minutes every day since August 11th. These gunshots are from propane powered bird cannon designed to scare birds temporarily. The farmer at 17529 Shaws Creek Road is using these devices to protect the vineyard as birds will eat grapes as they ripen on the vines.
We would like your feedback regarding this situation and your recommendation on appropriate actions the Belfountain Community Organization should coordinate on behalf of the community.
To gather this information, please answer this four question survey so we can understand your feelings on the matter. Survey is accessible through this LINK.
Your feedback is important to us.
Thank you,
The BCO
we live on Mississauga Road near the Caledon Ski Club and the frequent BANGS going off from 07:30 each morning are not just an annoyance they are an invasion of our right to enjoy our property. In no other circumstance would this be tolerated — for the benefit of one resident, every other resident is inconvenienced. If I played loud music beginning at sunrise each day, the police would be called. So why are we even contemplating this? The person in question needs to be told to cease and desist creating a nuisance for us all. He needs to find another solution, such as nets over his grapes, or scarecrows, or any number of other alternatives — this is his problem, not ours! We have visited vineyards worldwide and we have not heard loud noises at any of them.
What steps has bco taken ?
This is a normal farm practise. How can this community rally against someone who is producing crops which you/others consume? It is appalling the lack of understanding when you live in a rural area and demand farmers bow down when this this obviously harrassment?! Why not approach the farmer first rather than attack them? What happened to community spirit? Are we so far removed from farmers and where our food comes from that we think bullying someone is a good idea? Remember who helps to put food on your table and that maybe approaching with kindness and curiosity would do more good. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
A majority of us live in a residential area beside a rural area. We have lived there 10-20-30-40 years and enjoy our quiet, neighborly community. We support responsible farmers in the area, Belfountain Estate farm is NOT a responsible or neighborly farmer.
Locals endure sets of …3 loud cannon shots, every 2, 5, 10 to 15 minutes, from sunup until sundown, 7 days a week, from mid August to early October.
Environmental Impact: The loud noises emitted by bird cannons have disturbed local wildlife including small birds, chipmunks, squirrels, insects and reptiles by disrupting the natural environment.
Nontarget animals are affected by loss or the inaccessibility to food sources or other habitat components and the consequence of the noise effects their communication.
Public Health (and 4-legged family member) Concerns: The use of non-lethal tools like bird cannons can pose health risks to the public, especially if they are used in residential areas. Adverse effects of noise can include hearing loss, communication interference, sleep interference, physiological responses, and annoyance.
Come live in my house for a week, you will understand
PS, none of us consume food from this farm!! That is a couple hundred families, a couple hundred potential customers that will not support this business.
Can it somehow be reduced? And start maybe after 830am? Some of us have shift work.luckily white noise mostly blocks it out while sleeping.