Wind causes leaves to rub on the berries and bunches to rub against canes, resulting in the unsightly scarring of berries. Birds Several types of bird affect table grapes in Carnarvon. They attack the berries after they have started to colour but before sugar levels are high enough to allow harvesting. Two species of crows, Little Crow and Australian Crow, eat the whole berry leaving the stalks. Several local species of honey eater, including the Grey Breasted White Eye, damage many berries.
Damaged berries are unsightly and allow the development of rots, which make the fruit unmarketable.
Bird damaged bunches need many hours of painstaking work to remove damaged berries before sending the fruit to market. Protection principles Bird net structures incorporating wind protection are recommended to control birds and reduce wind damage. Natural windbreaks or vertical windbreaks along boundaries protecting bird net structures are recommended. In a new vineyard, incorporate bird netting and windbreak material into a bird exclosure. Bird exclosures must enclose the entire vineyard.