Very interesting!

I know that artificial grape flavoring is used commercially as a bird repellent in apple orchards, but I was under the impression that it was the flavor and scent, not the color which had the effect.

The Grapple was invented by an apple grower who came up with the idea of infusing an apple with the artificial grape flavoring, which he was probably using all the time in his orchard! Pretty disgusting if you ask me, but I don't think there is any chance of getting the flavor into a fruit without trying very hard (it apparently evaporates very readily).

Let us know how it all works!

Turns out the artificial grape flavor is called methyl anthranilate, and is well established as a bird repellent.

Below is a section from Wikipedia, which convinces me for sure that the color has nothing to do with this particular use of grape KoolAid.

From WIKIPEDIA:
Methyl anthranilate acts as a bird repellent. It is food-grade and can be used to protect corn, sunflowers, rice, fruit, and golf courses. Dimethyl anthranilate (DMA) has a similar effect. It is also used for the flavor of grape KoolAid.

I wonder if it would be cheaper/easier to use the pure methyl anthranilate intended as a bird repellent rather than the grape KoolAid?