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Noises That Scare Ducks

The cartoon character Donald Duck makes everything seem tame and safe. Unfortunately, real ducks may harbor nasty diseases and can be annoyingly noisy. Duck droppings have carried "bird flu" that has contributed to global outbreaks. Three of the great flu pandemics of the 20th century were a direct result of bird flu viruses becoming incorporated into human flu viruses. Ducks can also eat a farmer's crops, so scaring them away with noise can be a necessary deterrent.

  1. Pyrotechnics and Bangers

    • Fireworks, whistle bombs, banger screaming rockets and simple noise bombs are an effective method to scare ducks. Most "rocket bomb" devices discharge from modified hand guns or 12 to 20 gauge shotguns. Many have a range of 30 to 150 yards. These are more effective than a simple blast from a gun, because the projectile explodes in the air.

    Whistles and Air Horns

    • Blowing a loud police whistle will scare ducks way, but only temporarily. The same is true of clanging aluminum pans either hand-held or tied to a stake. Even air horns are short-term solutions. More sophisticated scare tactics employ multiple horns and are powered by high intensity commercial electric air compressors. These can also be attached to motion detectors or timers and placed near ponds and potential nesting areas.

    Automatic Exploders

    • These are also known as "propane cannons." These do not discharge a projectile, but use propane gas as a loud discharge with a booming sound. There are manual mechanized single-shot units as well as electronic with random, rotating multishot devices. These cannons can be adjusted to a localized boom affecting a very small area to larger ones that can reverberate for 25 acres. Digital clock timers and photocells are options for automatic firing and turning the devices on and off.

    Barking Dogs

    • This is an ancient method of scaring ducks. Trained dogs will immediately start barking at ducks attempting to land. Dogs are usually placed on a slip wire or can be allowed to free run as they bark and chase ducks away.

    Electronic Synthesized

    • Many noises can also annoy humans. Random generated noises and distress calls are two types of synthesized sound devices utilized, specifically for non-human ears. The random device is known as a "AV Alarm." It makes a warbling sound interfering with a duck's sensory system inducing anxiety, non-communication between mates and discomfort, forcing them to leave the area. Digital devices use computer microchips to produce a duck's extremely accurate distress call and other annoying noises. These digital units can also attract predators like hawks that will circle in the air, scaring ducks away.

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