Many people enjoy watching and listening to birds. However, for some people, birds can become a nuisance or a problem. Businesses such as farms, vineyards or golf courses can be affected by birds' feeding or living habits. You can use sounds to frighten birds away from the area.

There are a range of sounds that frighten away birds. Natural sounds or synthetic sounds can scare birds. For instance, a predatory bird call, such as the shriek from a hawk, can cause other birds to become frightened. Or certain bird distress calls can also cause other birds to become afraid. Synthetic sounds, such as high-frequency, ultrasonic sounds, can also frighten some birds. Applying a frightening visual object, such as a fake predatory bird, with a frightening sound can also be more efficient.

Ultrasonic bird repellers are available. These devices produce high-frequency sounds that cannot always be heard by the human ear. These devices can produce frequencies that target a specific type of bird or animal without harming other animals. You can buy devices such as the Ultrason X Ultrasonic Bird and Animal Repeller and set them up almost anywhere. These devices are usually left on for an extended period of time to drive birds out of an area.

Sometimes ultrasonic repellers do not work. Birds may simply become habituated to the sound and no longer be frightened. Other devices, such as sonic bird repellers, produce a range of noises to scare birds. For instance, according to the PestProducts website the BroadBand Pro device uses "natural predator sounds, natural bird distress cries, synthetic bird and predator sounds as well as three different frequencies of ultrasonic waves." Such a range of frightening sounds ensures birds do not become accustomed to a single sound.

Non-sound producing options also exist to frighten away birds. Everyone knows the image of a scarecrow setup in a field to scare birds away. A more modern version, the Electric Scarecrow, exists. This scarecrow variation is not made in the image of a person, instead it uses a high-powered water hose mounted on a pole and a movement sensor to blast any animals within a specific, small area. Another option is setting up a fake owl. The best option for this is using an owl that is in its hunting position, not a perching position. Some products are available, such as the Prowler Owl, that flaps its wings to constantly keep other birds on their toes.