The lowpowered laser is most effective before dawn or after dusk when the red beam of the laser is clearly visible. Bright sunlight will “wash out” the laser light rendering it ineffective. Although researchers are not sure if birds see the same red spot as people, it is clear that certain bird species elicit an avoidance response in reaction to the laser. The birds view the light as a physical object or predator coming toward them and generally fly away to escape. Research, however, has shown that the effectiveness of lowpowered lasers varies depending on the bird species and the context of the application.

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