Silvereyes cute but they can be a pest in Western Australia

Marri trees are valued for their white summer blossoms, large gum nuts, and ability to indicate fertile soil for viticulture. The sweet nectar of the marri blossom attracts silvereyes, which also find shelter in the tree’s dense canopy.  

Specifically, the height and strength of the marri tree indicate enough fertility and proper drainage in the soil. Marri trees don't grow in waterlogged or sandy soil, but rather in gravelly, loamy soil, which is ideal for grape-growing.

However, silvereyes also have a taste for wine grapes, causing problems for viticulturists, especially when the marri trees are not flowering. Silvereyes peck holes in the grapes to drink the moisture, which can lead to infection and further damage.  

Love for berries: Silvereyes are fond of wine grapes and will peck at them to drink the moisture.

Fruit damage:This pecking creates wounds in the berries, which can lead to infection and other problems.

Irregular flowering:The problem is exacerbated when the marri trees aren't flowering, or their flowering season doesn't coincide with the grape harvest.

Significant losses:This can result in significant crop loss for vineyards.

Net damage:Silvereyes can even work together to try and break through protective nets.

The number of silvereyes varies from year to year, depending on the marri blossom production. The proximity of vineyards to marri bushland can also affect the level of bird pressure on the grapes. Some grapegrowers have reported losing a significant portion of their crop to birds.  

There are a few methods to control silvereyes:

Nets: Using nets to protect the vineyard from the birds. However, the article points out that silvereyes can
sometimes work together to try and break through the nets.

Marri blossom abundance: The timing and abundance of marri blossom can divert silvereyes away from the vineyard. If there is enough blossom for the silvereyes to feed on, they are less likely to damage the grapes.

Bird control solutions include such as lasers, ultrasonic and sonic devices, visual deterrents and physical barriers.

Despite the damage they cause, many viticulturists value marri trees as indicators of good vineyard sites.


瑪麗樹因其夏季盛開的白色花朵、大型桉果以及指示葡萄栽培所需肥沃土壤的能力而備受重視。 瑪麗樹花朵的甜美花蜜吸引了小銀眼鳥，牠們也在樹木茂密的樹冠中找到庇護。
具體來說，瑪麗樹的高度和健壯程度表明土壤具有足夠的肥力和良好的排水性。 瑪麗樹不生長在水分過多或沙質的土壤中，而是生長在適合葡萄種植的礫石質壤土中。

然而，小銀眼鳥也喜歡吃釀酒葡萄，這給葡萄栽培者帶來了問題，尤其是在瑪麗樹沒有開花的時候。 小銀眼鳥會啄食葡萄以吸取水分，這可能導致感染和進一步的損害。

1. 喜愛漿果：小銀眼鳥喜歡吃釀酒葡萄，會啄食葡萄以吸取水分。
2. 果實損壞：這種啄食會在漿果上造成傷口，可能導致感染和其他問題。
3. 開花不規律：當瑪麗樹沒有開花，或者它們的開花季節與葡萄收穫期不一致時，問題會更加嚴重。
4. 重大損失：這可能導致葡萄園遭受重大的作物損失。
5. 破壞網子：小銀眼鳥甚至會合作嘗試啄破保護網。

小銀眼鳥的數量每年都會發生變化，具體取決於瑪麗樹的花朵產量。 葡萄園與瑪麗樹叢的距離也會影響葡萄所受到的鳥害壓力。 一些葡萄種植者表示，他們因鳥害損失了很大一部分作物。
有幾種控制小銀眼鳥的方法：

1. 網子：使用網子來保護葡萄園免受鳥害。然而，文章指出，小銀眼鳥有時會合作嘗試啄破網子。
2. 瑪麗樹花朵的豐富程度：瑪麗樹花朵的時間和豐富程度可以將小銀眼鳥從葡萄園引開。如果瑪麗樹有足夠的花朵供小銀眼鳥食用，牠們就不太可能損壞葡萄。

鳥害控制解決方案包括例如雷射、超音波和音頻設備、視覺威懾和物理屏障。
儘管瑪麗樹會造成損害，但許多葡萄栽培者仍然認為瑪麗樹是優良葡萄園地的指標，因而十分重視它們。