Hacker News Reader

Comment by bobthepanda | Hacker News Reader

Would this have a terrible effect on insect populations as well?

The Four Pests Campaign of the Great Leap Forward targeted the sparrow, amongst other animals, because they ate grain. Turns out they also ate a lot of insects, so when the sparrows all died the locusts came in and killed the harvest. These lasers don't kill, but permanently scaring them away from fields could have a similar effect.

https://io9.gizmodo.com/5927112/chinas-worst-self-inflicted-...

View on HN

The advantage here is you can turn the lasers on right before the harvest (when the birds do damage), but otherwise leave them off and the birds can return.

But, if the birds derive a significant portion of their yearly calories from eating berries during the harvest, you will still do damage to bird populations. Also, an open berry field keeps birds nearby. If the birds can't eat the berries, then what incentive do they have to stick around and eat harmful insects?

I'm not necessarily against the bird-lasers, but it's worth considering their side effects.

The blueberries are only there because the farmer is planting them in the first place. Though I agree with your sentiment.

I work on a system that strives for 100% efficiency, I think it makes the it extremely fragile. Loss is also tolerance for upset. It might be cheaper to produce more and not implement this system at all. Innovation comes from increase the size of the solution universe over micro optimizations.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com