VIGILANTE & LIGHTWEIGHT HELIKITES
Bird Control You Can Trust. SILENT, LIGHTER-THAN-AIR FLIES WITH OR WITHOUT WIND
What is a Helikite?
A Helikite is a lighter-than-air combination of a special kite and a disposable helium filled, Mylar balloon. It was conceived and patented by zoologist and agronomist Sandy Allsopp. Farmers and scientists had found flying kites extremely effective at scaring birds when windy but needed something that would also fly in no wind. There are two different birdscaring Helikites available. The Vigilante Helikite for temperate climates and the Lightweight Helikite for hot climates and tree fruit. Each Helikite comes with 5 spare balloons, carbon-fibre spar, special high strength flying line, an optional flashing tail, clips, swivels and full instructions. All Helikites are protected by UK Patent #GB2280381, US Patent # 6,016,998 plus others pending.
The Vigilante Helikite is the primary Helikite birdscarer. Thousands have been sold to arable farmers, fruit growers and other satisfied customers worldwide. A unique combination of kite, helium balloon and protective balloon cover the Vigilante Helikite flies up to 200 feet with up to 20 mph or without any wind to scare birds over areas as large as 25 acres. The hovering Helikite mimics the action of birds of prey as it moves around the sky. The Vigilante Helikite will come down in the rain but the unique protective cover protects the balloon from punctures until it dries out and automatically re-launches itself again. They are very frugal with helium – only using a few pence worth of the gas per day. The disposable inner balloons tend to last about 3 to 4 weeks before they wear out. Then they can be replaced very quickly. Vigilante Helikites are easy to transport in cars and can be stored anywhere. They are tough and well suited to their rough lives on farms worldwide.
Peregrine TM Pro Hawk Kites
Landfill using helikite bird control.
Same landfill before using helikite bird control.
Vigilante Helikite.
The Lightweight Helikite protects crops with good crop cover such as peas or laid cereals. They are also suitable for use in hot climates on all fruit, vegetable and arable crops. The silver Mylar balloon of the Lightweight Helikite is exposed, but it is still strong enough for many uses. The balloon is held onto the kite with straps. This means it is very lightweight and so flies better in extremely hot conditions and around buildings. Lightweight Helikites require no adjustment and fly happily in winds up to 25 mph (Force 6) in hot or cold climates. Lightweight Helikites are not as tough as Vigilante Helikites so Lightweight Helikites cannot be used on winter crops overnight or anywhere they are likely to come down onto bare ground when wet. To counter this problem, Lightweight Helikites can be used with our optional 42 foot tall, aluminium Helikite Poles on landfill sites, factory rooftops and feedlots. Like any Helikites they are superb at scaring problem birds over vast areas.
BIRDS CONTROLLED
PIGEONS
ROOKS
CROWS
STARLINGS
SEAGULLS
GEESE
SPARROWS
FINCHES
BLACKBIRDS
SMALL BIRDS
GROUND NESTERS
SITUATIONS
ARABLE FARMS
PIG & CATTLE FEEDLOTS
HORTICULTURE
FRUIT FARMS
LANDFILL SITES
FISH FARMS
SPORTS CENTRES
GOLF COURSES
RESORT HOTELS
BUILDING SITES
PARKS
Call us today to discuss your situation on +44 (0) 1425 654967
Effective:
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Wild hawk predators constantly reinforce natural fear
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Controls areas Up to 10 Ha. (25 Acres)
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Controls all wild birds
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No shooting required
Silent:
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No complaints about noise
Low Cost:
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Low cost to buy and run per acre
Reliable
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Very predictable area of control
Long Term Control
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Very low habituation
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Environmentally friendly
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Before Helikites were invented, agricultural bird control had always been a hit or miss affair, with old fashioned scarecrows or even the more modern bangers and wailers giving very variable protection, making it impossible for farmers to rely on them for long to counter expensive and often crippling crop losses. Birds are unpredictable and planning for them is very difficult. The scientifically designed, patented Helikite is the first and one of our best bird control systems that really works well over a long period of time because wild birds find it extremely difficult to overcome the innate terror of predatory hawks that Helikites create. Real hawks reinforce, so habituation is very unlikely - even after months without shooting. If you have a difficult bird problem the powerful Helikite is one of the few proven birdscarers really capable of protecting your livelihood.
ARABLE CROPS
Vigilante Helikites create a large bird-free “exclusion-zone” around themselves that is related to the height of the Helikite in the sky. Helikites provide such dependable control that farmers can now grow any arable crop with confidence that they need not be destroyed by bird pests. Flying at 200ft the Vigilante Helikite gives the largest area of control of any agricultural birdscarer.
FRUIT CROPS
The high altitude of Lightweight and Vigilante Helikites does not allow bird pests to hide in the crop foliage. This is why Helikites are extremely popular worldwide for top fruit protection.
SILENT BIRD CONTROL
With the Helikite, angry neighbours, frightened livestock, and visits from the noise complaints authorities, are things of the past. Noise is not required for effective bird control. Sight is the major sense in birds and so they are affected far more by the correct visual stimulus than by anything they hear - just like the human fear of snakes and spiders. You can site a Helikite next to populated areas where noisy bangers or wailers would cause objections. Local people will appreciate your concern for them and environment. You will get a better night's sleep as well! Silent control is unique to the new Helikite and it makes birdscaring feasible in many previously impossible situations - like pig or cattle units, in grain stores or near homes. Humane to all, and safe - no explosive gas. The revolutionary Helikite allows bird control where none was possible before.
HELIKITE POLES
Designed to facilitate the use of Helikites or normal Delta Kites around buildings, on landfill sites, arable trial sites or above very high value crops. The poles are 41ft (13 metres) high and have 39ft of line extending from the top. Therefore they allow a Helikite to fly up to 80ft high whilst eliminating the possibility of the Helikite ever damaging itself on the ground or rooftops. On landfill sites they ensure that the lorries and compactors never contact a Helikite or its flying line.
VIGILANTE HELIKITE
Contents of Kit:1 x VX sail cover 1 x pack of 5 balloons 1 x tail pack 1 x 60m Dyneema line 1 x set of carbon fibre spars
LIGHTWEIGHT HELIKITE
Contents of Kit:1 x LW sail cover 1 x pack of 5 balloons 1 x tail pack 1 x 60m line 1 x set of carbon fibre spars
Vital Birdscarer Features Helikite Propane Banger Sonic-Wailers Flashing Scarers
Controls up to 25 Acres
Very low habituation
Reliable on rooks / crows
Reliable near animals / silage
Silent - no complaints
Works over hills and hedges
Can work at night
Easy to set up and move around
No breakable moving parts
Costs from less than £140 to buy
Costs under £5 / acre
Reliable where birds have already started eating
No Battery required (that can be stolen)
Vital Birdscarer Features
Light Weight Helikite by Bird Control Systems LTD for Farming Bird Control.
Agriculture and Horticulture Bird Control in the UK, North America and Europe with Helikites. Manufactured in England.
Farm Bird Control, Crop Protection. Also used on Vineyards, Landfill and for tree marking.
Light Weight Helikite by Bird Control Systems LTD for Farming Bird Control.
Peregrine TM Pro Hawk Kites
There is nothing more frustrating than buying a noisy birdscarer that does not perform well. As the birds become more habituated they will creep closer and closer until they are virtually (or actually) sitting on the thing. You will have wasted a lot of time and money and a limited mechanical guarantee does not help.
HELIKITES ARE DIFFERENT - THEY WORK.
Bird Control Systems Ltd offers a full two month guarantee of bird control effectiveness of Helikites against wild bird.
This will give you ample time to test our claims of long term bird control, because birds tend to get used to many birdscarers after a couple of weeks. Hard winters are no excuse, nor are late sowing, a rookery nearby, or a pigeon flight-path (Helikites cause them to move). Birdscarers should work all the time they are needed within their stated criterion. Do yours?
Unrivalled Bird-Control Experience and Data
Please check out your own bird-control situation against our unique acreage chart.
Depending on the type of bird and the food value of the crop the area protected by one Helikite varies. This is common to all birdscarers. The following table shows the acreage of protection over which the Helikites have proven to be effective against wild birds.
You will not see a chart as detailed as this from any other birdscarer manufacturer.
They may prefer to give you vague promises of the area protected by their scarers. We prefer quantitative, observed data. Helikites control more than twice the area of most scarers. This chart might change slightly over time as we obtain new information from farmers or scientists, but as far as we know, it is the only such chart in existence. We are always interested in any birdscaring data you have. Please ring us.
Area Covered By One Helikite
(for those needing more coverage, sold through Bird Control Systems LTD -Helikites need helium).
Crop / Use
Acres by one
Hawk Kite
Type of Bird
Use / Crop
Acres by one Hawk Kite
Type of Bird
Rooks / Crows
Emerging Cereals 15
Laid Cereals 15
Landfill Sites 1 - 6
Farm Buildings 5
Pig / Cattle Unites 2 - 5
Drilled Maize 10 - 15
Strawberries 10
Wood Pigeons
Emerging Cereals 20 - 25
Oilseed Rape 20 - 25
Peas 20
Young Cabbages 15
Beans 15
Laid Cereals 15 - 25
Drilled Maze 15 - 20
Starlings
Cherries / Fruit Crop 5
Strawberries 7
Farm Buildings 1 - 5
Cattle Units 1 - 3
Small Birds
Grapes/Bush Crops 3 - 5
Strawberries 3 - 5
Cormorants
Fish Farms 10
Rivers 400 Metres
Local Geese
Oilseed-Rape 25
Grass/ Cereals 20
Grackles
Fruit Farms 5
Rice 10
Seagulls
Landfill Sites 1 - 6
Building Sites 2
Migratory Geese
Grass / Cereals 30 - 50
Pheasants
Woodland Edge 1 - 5
U.K. Herons
Fish Farms 10