FAQs

Sales Questions

How much does the R:Falcon Cost?

Of the products that are capable of providing a long term bird deterrent solution, R:Falcon is by far the least expensive. R:Falcon cannot be compared with cheap products, which are only effective for a very short period.

All Robop installations are made to customer order and quoted based on our evaluation criteria for best deterrent effect. This takes into account, area, scale of bird problem, availability of staff to monitor/move the R:Falcons and power amongst other things. 

R:Falcon is supplied direct from our factory or via local distributors and agents where these are in place. The price quoted by overseas distributors will include freight charges and import duty as well as local value-added services. So, check with them for local pricing. 

A typical small installation will have two R:Falcons and 4-6 mounting bases, while a large system might have 8 or more solar or mains powered R:Falcons.

Is there a brochure of the R:Falcon available?

Yes, please visit https://www.robop.com/brochure/index.html for a PDF version of our coporate brochure. 

Do you offer customer Trials of the R:Falcon?

As we make all R:Falcons to customer order we do not offer free trials. However, we do offer a rental solution on a 3-month minimum term basis, depending on availability. 

This allows both Robop and the customer to assess whether the R:Falcon is a suitable deterrent for your situation without the capital outlay. 

Please enquire for further information about rentals at enquiries@robop.co.uk 

Are R:Falcons available to order online?

At the moment we are unable to sell R:Falcons online.

The main reason being that the R:Falcons are made bespoke to customer order. Their deterrent effect is based on a number of criteria which we assess through our evaluation of your premises and bird problem.
If you are interested in finding out how we can help you, please fill in the evaluation form via the enquire now tab, and we will get back to you with a free cost estimate.  

What is the lead time between placing our order and receipt of R:Falcon?

This varies according to the number of backorders going through production. For planning purposes you should assume a lead time of 4-6 weeks. We aim to keep a small stock of Standard Robops, but like all birds, they have to go through a 1-week Quality Control and Test procedure before they can be shipped. So allow at least 2-weeks for delivery from receipt of order, even for stock birds.

Operation of The R:Falcon

What species does the R:Falcon Scare

The R:Falcon is effective against the main target species of problem birds i.e. seagulls, all corvids, wood/feral pigeons and starlings. Small non-flock birds are less likely to be affected. Tests will be undertaken to determine the effectiveness against geese in cereal and grass protection. The peregrine falcon is distributed over a greater range of locations than any other bird in the world. Robop will therefore be effective against a large number of bird species unknown in the UK, where peregrine kills have been recorded in 106 species of birds.

How to get rid of pigeons using the R:Falcon

So, you are looking for an easy way on how to get rid of pigeons, right? Is Robop the answer to your prayers?

Well, it could be. On the other hand, maybe not. We have many success stories where Robop has achieved spectacular results, getting rid of large numbers of pigeons and completely eliminating all the problems they were causing. However, on other sites Robop just hasn’t worked at all and the pigeons are carrying on making the same old mess. So, why should this be?

Let’s start with the facts. Peregrine falcons attack and eat pigeons, so all pigeons have an inbuilt fear of the Peregrine falcon. Ask any pigeon racer and he will tell you Peregrines are a curse. We know from the reaction of a wide range of bird types that they respond to Robop exactly as they would a real peregrine. So, pigeons in their natural state will be terrified of Robop and will leave your property.

But what of urbanised pigeons? Emaciated, hungry, riddled with parasites and accustomed to city traffic. Most are in such a poor state of health that they hardly care whether they live or die. If this is the type of pigeons you have, the chances of Robop solving your pigeon problems are slim.

So, why not tap into our vast experience and request a free site evaluation today.

Do birds get used to R:Falcons?

All bird deterrents are effective to some degree and over a limited time, usually a few days or weeks. By contrast, we have clients where their R:Falcon are still effective after 10 years. No other deterrent system comes remotely close to this.

The R:Falcon has been designed specifically to prevent habituation, but to achieve this it must be managed. The battery must be charged, and the bird moved from base to base to create the impression that a peregrine is using several roosts throughout the area to be protected. Alternatively, we have found that saturation coverage of a roof with solar or mains powered R:Falcons that are not moved can also be extremely effective over the long term. This is of particular benefit where roof access is difficult or where staff are not permitted on the roof for health and safety reasons.

The R:Falcon has been made as realistic as possible down to the smallest detail. This includes, for example, the way it rocks very slightly in a breeze. Also, if a wind is blowing, it will turn and face the wind and rest in that position. This is what all birds do to prevent discomfort.

Over what distance will the R:Falcon deter other birds?

This varies considerably depending on the situation. In open fields, users have reported Robop being effective over 25-50 acres, while in a city centre you might need two birds to cover one building. Once we know your situation, we can give you a more precise answer.

What is the routine operation of an R:Falcon?

There are two aspects here, moving the bird to prevent habituation and battery charging. A peregrine falcon will sit for a long time observing before attacking other birds. However, they will not sit for weeks or months in the same spot. Therefore, if you leave an R:Falcon in the same spot, other birds will eventually begin to realise that the behaviour of the Falcon is not “right.” They may become emboldened by this thought and start to ignore it. To combat this, it is recommended that you move R:Falcons between mounting bases every few days at first until the native birds have got the message and move away permanently. Once they have moved to another territory, R:Falcon can then be left for a longer period in the one spot. The whole concept of R:Falcon, is to get nuisance birds to move away to a new territory because their current territory (i.e. on your building) has now been taken over by Peregrine falcons and is therefore not safe.

Because of the need to move units between bases you need good access to the mounting points. If access is difficult and/or you wish to protect open ground, then you need the trailer system. You could also attach the pneumatic pole to your building if roof access is difficult.

As noted previously, saturated coverage with mains or solar powered Robops can be very effective over long periods without the need to move birds between mounts.

How long can we expect R:Falcon to last?

We expect R:Falcons to last more than 10 years of continuous use, provided that it is regularly maintained. As with any mechanical product that is used outdoors in all weathers, R:Falcon does need to be maintained to stay in tip-top condition. We now run a number of Maintenance Packages, from annual service to on-site maintenance and engineering services where possible.

When I deployed the R:Falcon for the first time the bird population suddenly increased. Why is this?

This is very common and is frequently accompanied by aggressive attacks with birds swooping, diving and indeed “crapping” on R:Falcons. A strong reaction such as this shows that the birds not only heard and saw it but immediately regarded it as a threat. This is excellent, although you probably wondered, “What the hell is happening here.”

Every R:Falcon is in a sense a psychological warfare device. To understand how it works you need to understand a bit about bird psychology. Birds are highly territorial creatures, who particularly in the breeding season defend their territory vigorously. The idea that you are trying to plant in the birds mind is that a dangerous predator i.e. a Peregrine falcon, has set up a territory in the area you wish to protect.

Since the building is already in “occupied territory” the residents will try to intimidate the newcomer to fly off. Frequently, a single bird or pair of birds will swoop close to an R:Falcon, but when it does not fly away, they will round up reinforcements. In some cases, we have seen anything up to several hundred birds called into the attack. When the attack fails i.e. R:Falcon does not fly away, the birds will decide that they have to find a new territory. This leaves the area free of birds thereby achieving the objective.

How long should a battery R:Falcon last between charges?

This depends on three factors, (a) whether the battery has been fully charged, (b) the number of hours of daylight (remember R:Falcon switches on at Dawn and off at Dusk) and (c) the prevailing weather conditions, notably the wind speed. Over recent weeks we have been running lifecycle tests, which have shown that the battery packs are capable of powering R:Falcon for 21 days. However, our recommendation is that R:Falcon is charged every week.

How do I adjust the volume of the R:Falcon?

The volume on the R:Falcons can be adjusted by the green square button mounted adjacent to the light sensor on the under body. 

Volume is increased or decreased by momentarily depressing the green button. Each press lowers the volume one level until the minimum is reached.  

Further depressions will increase the volume until the maximum is reached. 

Note: The volume will default to maximum when R:Falcon is switched off. 

What happens if we leave R:Falcon on our building and don't move or charge it?

The long term effectiveness of the R:Falcon relies on maintaining the illusion that it is a living, breathing, Peregrine Falcon. Part of this is achieved by periodically moving R:Falcons and making sure they are always operational through routine checks and ensuring any battery units are charged. 

How can I tell if the batteries are fully charged?

You can either use the trickle charge or fast charge capability with the Robop supplied charger. Using the normal or “trickle” charge requires approximately 8 hours to charge, so it is best left to charge overnight. The charger’s fast charge facility delivers up to 2.5A and when the battery is fully charged it switches automatically into trickle charge mode. This is indicated by the red LED turning to green.

What temperature range will the R:Falcon operate within?

We have R:Falcons operating in temperatures ranging from +40ºC and -20ºC.

Technical Questions

What is the decibel level of the R:Falcon's Voice?

This is 85db when measured next to Robop in our lab. This is not loud when heard outside at the normal distance. It is important to note that the Robop voice is no louder than that of a real peregrine, which is not particularly loud. Do not confuse Robop with acoustic bird scaring devices which can be very loud indeed. The volume is adjustable using an external button and if necessary can be re-programmed to give any desired sound level.

Is there a technical specification sheet for the R:Falcon?

Yes, please email office@robop.co.uk, for more tecnical details

How can I test that my R:Falcon is operating?.

In the future we would like to add a test button so that it is possible to see that the R:Falcon is functioning correctly. However, for the moment the best way to check that Your R:Falcon is working is to follow this simple process:

Battery Falcons: twist Falcons head so that it is off centre and gently pull its wings out. Flick switch to on position (towards the head)  and wait a couple of seconds, If the R:Falcon is operational you may hear a slight motor noise and immediately after the head will move back to its original position and the wings will pull in automatically.

AC and DC Falcons: (Mains and Solar):
twist Falcons head so that it is off centre and gently pull its wings out.
Plug the Falcons cable into the Mains outlet or the Solar Battery Box and wait a couple of seconds, If the R:Falcon is operational you may hear a slight motor noise and immediately after the head will move back to its original position and the wings will pull in automatically.

If the wings and head remain in their altered position there is something wrong, if this happens please contact us on +44(0)1620 850716 or email service@robop.co.uk

Warranty Questions 

What happens if I drop the R:Falcon and it gets damaged?

We will re-shell the bird if necessary and repair any internal damage. This will be done on a time and materials basis, charged at cost. Alternatively, we can supply a new bird if the cost is covered by your insurance.

What is covered by the manufacturers warranty?

Our unconditional 12-month manufacturers warranty covers every aspect of the system, including any damage caused by severe weather. We do not cover accidental damage to the system, such as caused by mishandling or dropping of the R:Falcons by the client’s staff or contractors. This warranty can be extended to cover the whole working life of the system, thereby avoiding any unforeseen costs.

What options are available when my manufacturers warranty runs out?

At Robop can created a tailored quote for the following options:

  • Onsite service contracts  – We will develop a plan to visit your site 2 or 3 times a year, check the Falcons are operational and carry out any necessary repairs, either onsite or back at our workshop. We will then reinstate or deliver your Falcons back to you in full working order.
  • Factory Maintenance Contracts – You report a fault, package up your R:Falcon(s), we arrange a courier to collect it and bring it back to our workshop for diagnostics and repair.
  • Annual Service – Here you can arrange for us to collect your R:Falcons and return them back to our factory for a tune up before the nesting season for a one off fee per R:Falcon. 

All of the above contract options include an extension to the warranty, which means you can report a fault and we will collect it and fix it anytime within the 12-month period from when the contract was taken out.

* please note warranty does not cover damage caused by rough handling or dropping. 

If you would rather not take out a contract, we also offer an ad-hoc maintenance service; 

  • Ad-Hoc Maintenance – as with the maintenance contract, we will arrange collection of your R:Falcon but we will then diagnose and supply you with a quote for the repair.

 

How can I organise repair or report fault with my R:Falcon?

To organise repair or report a fault with your R:Falcon please call the office on +44(0)1620 850716 or email office@robop.co.uk

Maintenance Questions

How often should I check on the R:Falcon?

How often you should checked on your R:Falcon system varies slightly. If your system is optimised to property size and size of problem, then as a general rule of thumb we would recommend checking on your system every quarter.

If however, you have gone for a system with the optimum number of bases but less Falcon units, these should be moved periodically to ensure the property is covered. We would recommend doing this once a month. However, we do appreciate that not every site has a member of staff responsible for doing this, so moving the units as regularly as possible would still be beneficial.

The success of the R:Falcon relies on the systems being operational so it is important to check the Falcons are working and report any faults back to us asap.

At Robop we are here to assist in making your deterrent system as effective as possible and can provide onsite services to UK customers at a cost. To learn more or to receive a tailored quote, please get in touch on +44(0)1620 850716 or email office@robop.co.uk.

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