Wild birds and other critters have always been a scourge to our gardens. They eat buds, blossoms, fruit and vegetables and can literally destroy entire crops. Unlike insects that are eradicated by using pesticides, gardeners are constantly looking for non-lethal methods to protect their crops from animals.
By trial and error over the years, it’s been shown that instilling fear in these wild animals is the best way to keep them away when they come to feast. In low-populated rural areas, farmers effectively use loud noises to keep birds away. The air-compression cannons controlled by automatic timers or motion sensors that boom out across the country side during bird season are very effective in keeping the aerial invaders and rodents at bay.
Unfortunately, home-gardeners have neighbors to contend with, so the noise cannons are out. Fortunately, technology has produced several devices that drive pests away in a silent, non-threatening manner. One of the best is the robotic automatic scarecrow sprinkler, a humane animal repellent that any gardener can install.
The robotic automatic scarecrow sprinkler works to protects gardens and yards from birds, deer, rabbits, and other animal pests. The technique is simple. It startles the animal intruders with the sound of the sprinkler followed by harmless bursts of water gyrating in a circular pattern.
Motion detectors activate the sprinkler system. Whenever the sensor detects movement along the ground or in the air, the sprinkler turns on. The sudden noise and unexpected shower of water is deigned to startle the animal into retreating. This sensing technology provides for optimum water and battery conservation because the sprinkler is only called into play when the unwanted pests arrive. Timers can be adjusted to turn the system off once an entire circular sweep of the protected area has been completed.
Setting up a robotic scarecrow sprinkler system is fairly easy. For each sprinkler, lay a garden hose to the device and connect it. Install the proper size and number of batteries that run the motion detector. Run a test by turning the water on and then creating motion to activate the sprinkler. A single 9-volt battery should last for about six months before needing replacement. Each sprinkler should cover approximately 1,200 square feet.
Unlike the traditional garden scarecrow that is designed to look like a human but more often acts as a perch for birds, the robotic sprinkler system seems to keep the birds and animals off guard. The fact that the sudden appearance of noise and water is something the animals don’t get accustomed too makes it a very effective tool in keeping the garden free from unwanted animals.