Ultraviolet strategy for avian repellency
Inventors
Assignees
US Department of Agriculture USDA
Publication Number
US-9131678-B1
Publication Date
2015-09-15
Expiration Date
2030-01-06
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Abstract
By using visual cue agents that exhibit spectral characteristics sufficiently similar to a previously-applied repellent treatment, the amount of the repellent agents used in subsequent or repeat applications may be significantly reduced while still effectively repelling birds. The method for repelling birds from a target includes the application of a first treatment of a bird repellent agent to the target in an amount effective to repel the birds of interest. Subsequently, one or more additional treatment(s) is/are applied to the target including a visual cue agent that exhibits an ultraviolet absorbance spectrum or color which is sufficiently similar to the previously-applied repellent treatment. In these subsequent applications, the bird repellent agent may be applied at a significantly lower amount than the first treatment.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to compositions and methods for repelling wild birds from target foods or places by using bird repellent agents in combination with visual cue agents that exhibit spectral characteristics sufficiently similar to a previously-applied repellent treatment. This similarity in spectral characteristics prevents birds from visually differentiating between initial and subsequent treatments, allowing the amount of repellent agents used in later applications to be significantly reduced while still effectively repelling birds.
The background describes that birds cause significant monetary losses to crops such as rice, corn, fruit, grains, and others, and that previous repellents often require repeated applications, which increases cost, environmental effects, and legal limits on usage. Visual cues in prior art were distinct colors associated with negative responses, but the need remains for improved repellent systems that reduce the required amount of repellent agents during repeated applications.
The invention solves this problem by applying a first treatment with an effective amount of bird repellent agent, then applying one or more subsequent treatments that include a visual cue agent whose spectral characteristics are so similar to the initial repellent treatment that birds do not visually distinguish them. In these subsequent treatments, the repellent agent may be omitted or applied at significantly reduced amounts, while the visual cue agent is applied in amounts effective for bird recognition. This method thereby reduces the repellent agent usage over time while maintaining repellency.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim and one improvement claim, focusing on methods for reducing amounts of anthraquinone used in bird repellency by employing visual cue agents with specific spectral similarity.
Method for reducing anthraquinone usage with visual cue agent
A method involving application of a first treatment with an effective amount of anthraquinone bird repellent to a target to repel birds, followed by one or more subsequent treatments comprising a visual cue agent exhibiting spectral characteristics sufficiently similar to anthraquinone so birds do not visually differentiate between treatments. In subsequent treatments, anthraquinone is applied at significantly lower amounts, and the visual cue agent is applied at amounts effective for bird recognition.
Use of spectral similarity in visual cue agents for repeated bird repellency
Subsequent treatments include a visual cue agent selected from titanium (IV) oxide, trisiloxanes, and siloxanes, with titanium (IV) oxide preferred, applied at amounts visibly recognized by birds, enabling substantial reduction of anthraquinone (between about 10% to 60%, preferably 25% to 60%, most preferably 40% to 60% of the initial amount). The combination of anthraquinone and visual cue agent can be synergistically effective at specific concentrations (e.g., 0.02% to 0.035% anthraquinone and 0.2% titanium (IV) oxide by weight).
Improvement in bird repellency by combining visual cue agent with reduced anthraquinone
Applying one or more subsequent treatments with a visual cue agent exhibiting spectral characteristics similar to the initial anthraquinone treatment, allowing anthraquinone concentrations to be significantly reduced while maintaining repellency, wherein birds do not visually distinguish the subsequent treatments from the first treatment.
The claims cover methods that leverage spectral similarity of visual cue agents to the initially applied anthraquinone bird repellent, enabling significant reduction of repellent agent amounts in subsequent applications while effectively repelling birds. The inventive features focus on the specific spectral properties of the visual cue agent, reduction ranges for anthraquinone, and synergistic treatments.
Stated Advantages
Significant reduction in the amount of bird repellent agent required in subsequent applications after an initial effective treatment.
Effectively repels birds over multiple applications while minimizing cost and environmental impact.
Utilizes visual cue agents with spectral similarity to the repellent treatment, which birds do not visually differentiate, enhancing repellency and reducing needed chemical amounts.
Enables overcoming legal and safety limits on aggregate repellent agent concentrations through repeated but reduced usage.
Documented Applications
Repelling wild birds from targets including structures, agricultural fields or crops, seeds, seedlings, orchards, vineyards, livestock feed, fertilizers, pesticides, animal or insect baits, or combinations thereof.
Preventing or minimizing economic damage caused by bird species including blackbirds (red-winged blackbirds, grackles, brown-headed cowbirds), starlings, geese, crows, cranes, swans, pheasants, wild turkeys, pigeons, sparrows, woodpeckers, larks, robins, finches, and waxwings.
Application to crops such as corn, fruit, grains, grasses, legumes, lettuce, millet, oats, rice, row crops, sorghum, sunflower, tree nuts, turf, vegetables, and wheat.
Interested in licensing this patent?