SCARECROW BIO-ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS Ltd
The initial, pioneering, designs leading to the digital storage of bird distress calls date back to early 1984; the UK's London Gatwick Airport sought a simple alternative to using tape recordings because the electromechanical systems were unreliable, could be misused and had, on occasion, failed at a critical time.
The solution was to 'computer chip' the sounds by digitising, a technique originally pioneered for automatic emergency announcements related to 'voice alarm' building evacuation systems.
The Initial DIGISCARE system proved very successful and, in 1991, the design was upgraded to SCARECROW by the Group that continues to develop it, Scarecrow Bio-Acoustic Systems Limited, a privately owned UK Company.
In digitizing, all unwanted sounds are edited out, leaving 'clean' bird calls with further advantages:
MAIN PRODUCTS
1. Goose Patrol/Patrol Two
Goose Patrol and Patrol Two are bio-acoustic bird dispersal products designed to combat the nuisance and health hazard caused by uncontrolled movement of birds in urban environments and, more importantly, the threat of birdstrike at airports where just one can cause severe damage to an aircraft, even a crash with consequent loss of life.
Scarecrow's Goose Patrol and Patrol Two are physically identical, they are portable, hand held, provide an effective operation distance of approximately 350 metres, they are battery powered with a battery life in excess of 36 hours (120 days’ average use).
Scarecrow Goose Patrol contains four effective Canada Geese calls, together with those of Herring gull, Black-headed gull, Starling, Rook and Pigeon, the latter being another call unique to Scarecrow research.
Scarecrow Patrol Two contains nine digitally stored distress calls: Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Crow, Herring Gull, Lapwing, Magpie, Pigeon, Rook and Starling.
Each call is selected by a simple rotary switch; the benefits of digital storage are uniquely strengthened by the fact that each distress call is reproduced with excellent fidelity from its natural start.
2. Scarecrow B.I.R.D. System
The Scarecrow B.I.R.D. System™ is a bio-acoustic bird dispersal system – that is the broadcast of digitally cleansed, natural bird distress calls.
As such the system is humane, inoffensive, and does not endanger the bird’s life in any way. Equally, as the broadcast needs to be at a natural sound level for the birds, the calls are not intrusive and often remain unnoticed in places where the public is present.
As standard, the system incorporates 10 of the most commonly used distress calls from the Scarecrow library, these calls having been used successfully for over 30 years.
The programmed bird calls will broadcast for up to a 90 second period over the target area, in line with ornithological advice, on a randomized basis (no human intervention required).
The Scarecrow B.I.R.D. System™ can be powered from 15v DC (100v/250v ac mains supply), leisure battery, or solar power.
Everything on the Scarecrow B.I.R.D. System™ is operated and set through key pad control. The system has three speaker channels, and each channel can take up to a maximum of 10 speakers, allowing for a maximum of 30 speakers per system.
3. Scarecrow B.I.R.D. Tab
Scarecrow’s flagship Airside product is the Scarecrow B.I.R.D. Tab™ Bird Dispersal and Data Logging/Analysis Software which is a vehicle mounted system.
Due to the growing difficulties airports face with birds and the growing requirement for accurate data to be easily logged by the Operators, Scarecrow developed the Scarecrow B.I.R.D. Tab™ Software following the success of its predecessor Ultima.
B.I.R.D. Tab™ is the next generation of bird dispersal and data logging – based on the newly launched Panasonic Toughpad tablet pc – it has an integrated camera to enable photographic evidence to be included in reports.
B.I.R.D. Tab™ has an improved and simplified reporting process to aide airports manage and mitigate their risk of bird strikes.
B.I.R.D. Tab™ gives the managers the ability to log additional information about different species found on the airfield as an additional tool/training guide for the operators to refer to during their patrols. This could include key identifying factors or the best dispersal method to use.
Threat Report
B.I.R.D. Tab™ provides a high level management overview via a “Dashboard” of activity and risk, based around pre-configured risk and threat levels an airport associates with species of wildlife.
Scarecrow B.I.R.D. Tab™ now comes as standard with the improved Runway Module which includes the ability to log Runway Inspections, Surface Conditions and include photographic evidence.
Each system includes all hardware and software, and is setup to the individual airports requirements in regards to the programmed bird distress calls and the airports map.
4. Scarecrow 180/360
The Scarecrow 180™ and Scarecrow 360™ System are standalone units – the three internal speakers within the Scarecrow 180™ are designed to broadcast over a 180° area, which can be increased to a full 360° broadcast by the addition of the Scarecrow 360™ unit.
Originally designed to be used in locations such as crop fields, fruit farms, parks and golf courses the system can also be used in certain urban locations as well.
Utilizing the very established Scarecrow method, the Scarecrow 180™ and Scarecrow 360™ is a bio-acoustic bird dispersal system – that is the broadcast of digitally cleansed, natural bird distress calls.
As such the system is humane, inoffensive and does not endanger the bird’s life in any way.
As standard, the system incorporates 10 of the most commonly used distress calls from the Scarecrow library, these calls having been used successfully for over 30 years.
The Scarecrow 180™ has built in brackets, allowing for fixing either to a wall, or pole mounted. If the Scarecrow 360™ is being added to the Scarecrow 180™ then this is normally fitted back to back on a standard 1m or 2m pole, mounted on a 1m square base – as such this option can be fully portable.
The programmed bird calls will then broadcast for up to a 90 second period over the target area, in line with ornithological advice, on a randomized basis.
The Scarecrow 180/360™ can be powered from 15v DC (100v/250v ac mains supply), leisure battery, or solar power.
Everything on the Scarecrow 180/360™ is operated and set through key pad control. The system has three speaker channels.
Designed to broadcast over a 100m maximum distance, the volume setting can be adjusted/set to a lower distance as required – when in broadcast, the system will then automatically vary the volume during broadcast between the maximum set distance and 20m; this will create the perception of predator movement and add to the confusion and concern in the target specie, as well as ensuring that no matter where the bird is placed, at some point the volume of broadcast will sound at a natural level.
Equally, the system will provide further confusion and concern in the target bird, by broadcasting via each of the 3 speaker channels in turn – again creating the impression of predator movement; during broadcast via each speaker channel the variable volume as above will feature.
5. Premier 2020
The broadcast of distress calls, as part of an integrated bird management scheme, has proved effective for bird dispersal from airfields and surrounding areas. It is an essential part of flight safety and must be carried out efficiently to minimize bird strike risk to aircraft, their passengers and crew.
Scarecrow bio-acoustic bird dispersal systems are humane and inoffensive in their function, exploiting natural bird behavior for their success. A new
advanced storage technology, designed to further improve the well established efficiency of Scarecrow products, forms the basis of Premier 2020.
Premier 2020 operates from 12 or 24v dc sources and has been designed to be vehicle installed to provide a complete bio-acoustic bird dispersal system when connected to SCARECROW roof mounted loudspeakers; these will promote a vertical beam of sound reaching into the sky above to ensure distress calls are maintained until the subject birds have dispersed from the immediate area. The main features included in the Premier 2020 are 14 Distress calls as standard,LCD display, push button controls, slim Line design, terminal block rear connections.
The operating distance of the Premier 2020 is 300 metres.
A hand held remote control, providing all the features available from the PREMIER 2020 front panel can be connected to allow 2020 to be stored under a vehicle seat, or elsewhere.
