Rathfinny Wine Estate has welcomed a specialist falconry team to protect its grapes during the critical final month of ripening. From dawn to dusk, trained falcons, hawks and even a Chilean Blue Eagle will patrol the skies above the Sussex Estate, keeping hungry pigeons, crows and seagulls away from the precious fruit.
The process begins with the swift Peregrine Falcon – native to the UK and the fastest animal on earth, capable of reaching speeds of over 200 mph – flying high to clear the skies. Harris Hawks and the Blue Eagle then sweep across the valley, deterring birds from returning. A Merlin – the UK’s smallest bird of prey – can be deployed to dart between the vine rows, flushing out smaller birds that could damage the crop.
This innovative approach replaces the plastic netting previously used to protect the fruit, which lasted only five seasons and did not align with Rathfinny’s sustainability goals as a certified B Corp. By flying the birds in rotation during peak feeding times, the falconry team keeps pests away without harming the local environment.
Visitors to Rathfinny during harvest will have the chance to witness these majestic birds in action while enjoying a glass of Sussex Sparkling in the Tasting Room, at The Hut, or while visiting the Cellar Door shop. Members of the Rathfinny Reserved Club will also be treated to an exclusive falconry display on 15 October.
About the birds
The birds have been especially bred and trained for the falconry and are managed by expert, licensed handlers.
- Peregrine Falcon X Gyrfalcon Hybrid: Specialist hybrid birds are often used in falconry, bringing the attributes of different species together. Peregrine Falcons – found across the UK – are the world’s fastest animal, reaching speeds of over 200mph. It is an aerial-hunting specialist, taking on birds in the air. The Gyrfalcon is native to the Arctic and is the largest species of Falcon on Earth. In its natural habitat, it usually hunts mammals on the ground such as Arctic Hares. Breeding these birds together makes an ideal choice for bringing birds up from the vines. With great speed and agility, they can channel the birds off the Estate. Larger than a normal Peregrine, these hybrid falcons can deter birds twice their size, such as seagulls.
- Peregrine Falcon X Aplomado Falcon Hybrid: The other hybrid is a Peregrine crossed with the South American Aplomado. A smaller falcon known for its acrobatic hunting style, it hunts smaller birds and large insects. When bred with the Peregrine it is the perfect size to ward off pigeons and is also small and agile enough to go in between the vines if needed.
- Merlin: The UK’s smallest bird of prey is able to chase down small birds. Merlins are a type of falcon and are extremely fast and agile, twisting and turning in the air as they hunt. They are specialists at flying in between the vines, flushing out smaller birds who might be settling to eat the fruit.
- Harris’s Hawk: Native to the Americas, the Harris’s Hawk helps patrol the edges of the Estate to keep birds away from the grapes. A slightly slower bird, it uses up less energy than the falcons when it flies, meaning it can go for longer and is easier for the team on the ground to keep an eye on and control.
- Chilean Blue Eagle: Otherwise known as the Black Chested Buzzard-Eagle, it plays a similar role to the Harris’s Hawk, although larger. Its intimidating presence is enough to keep pigeons and crows away. As the name suggests, this bird is native to South America.
“In the past we have used nets to try and protect our grapes from birds, but as a B Corp company we’re always trying to reduce our environmental impact and the plastic nets need replacing every three to five years and require lots of small plastic clips to keep them in place. This year we’re trialing a falconer who we hope will be more successful in keeping the birds away from our precious grapes. Luckily there’s currently plenty of food available in the hedgerows around the Estate for the birds to enjoy,” said Sarah Driver, co-founder and co-owner.
