Managing Bird Damage
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Managing Bird Damage Managing Bird Managing Bird Damage Bird damage is a significant problem in Australia with total to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops damage to horticultural production estimated at nearly $300 million annually. Over 60 bird species are known to damage horticultural crops. These species possess marked differences in feeding strategies and movement patterns which influence the nature, timing and severity of the damage they cause. Reducing bird damage is difficult because of the to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops Fruit and Other Horticultural to unpredictability of damage from year to year and a lack of information about the cost-effectiveness of commonly used management practices. Growers therefore need information on how to better predict patterns of bird movement and abundance, and simple techniques to estimate the extent of damage to guide future management investment. This book promotes the adoption of a more strategic approach to bird management including use of better techniques to reduce damage and increased cooperation between neighbours. Improved collaboration and commit- John Tracey ment from industry and government is also essential along with reconciliation of legislation and responsibilities. Mary Bomford Whilst the focus of this review is pest bird impacts on Quentin Hart horticulture, most of the issues are of relevance to pest bird Glen Saunders management in general. Ron Sinclair DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY Managing Bird Damage Managing Bird Managing Bird Damage Bird damage is a significant problem in Australia with total to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops damage to horticultural production estimated at nearly $300 million annually. Over 60 bird species are known to damage horticultural crops. These species possess marked differences in feeding strategies and movement patterns which influence the nature, timing and severity of the damage they cause. Reducing bird damage is difficult because of the to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops Fruit and Other Horticultural to unpredictability of damage from year to year and a lack of information about the cost-effectiveness of commonly used management practices. Growers therefore need information on how to better predict patterns of bird movement and abundance, and simple techniques to estimate the extent of damage to guide future management investment. This book promotes the adoption of a more strategic approach to bird management including use of better techniques to reduce damage and increased cooperation between neighbours. Improved collaboration and commit- John Tracey ment from industry and government is also essential along with reconciliation of legislation and responsibilities. Mary Bomford Whilst the focus of this review is pest bird impacts on Quentin Hart horticulture, most of the issues are of relevance to pest bird Glen Saunders management in general. Ron Sinclair DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY Managing Bird Damage to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops John Tracey Mary Bomford Quentin Hart Glen Saunders Ron Sinclair © Commonwealth of Australia 2007 ISBN 0 644 29240 7 (set) ISBN 0 9750443 7 0 (this publication) This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. The Australian Government acting through the Bureau of Rural Sciences has exercised due care and skill in the preparation and compilation of the information and data set out in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Bureau of Rural Sciences, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence, for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or data set out in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law. Postal address: Bureau of Rural Sciences GPO Box 858 Canberra, ACT 2601 Copies available from: BRS Publication Sales GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601 Ph: 1800 020 157 Fax: 02 6272 2330 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.brs.gov.au Author affiliations: John Tracey, NSW Department of Primary Industries – Vertebrate Pest Research Unit Mary Bomford, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra Quentin Hart, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra Glen Saunders, NSW Department of Primary Industries – Vertebrate Pest Research Unit Ron Sinclair, SA Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation – Animal and Plant Control Group Preferred way to cite this publication: Tracey, J., Bomford, M., Hart, Q., Saunders, G. and Sinclair, R. (2007) Managing Bird Damage to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra. Design: Big Island Graphics, Canberra Printing: Goanna Print, Canberra Cover photographs: Left: Bird-damaged grapes; Bruce Mitchell, NSW Department of Primary Industries. Centre: Rainbow lorikeet eating apple; Nick Morenos, Fruit Tree Media. Right: Starling eating Nashi pear; John Tracey, NSW Department of Primary Industries. Section break image: Silvereye feeding on persimmon; W. Taylor. Supported by: ii Managing Bird daMage to Fruit and other horticultural crops Foreword Bird damage is a significant problem for many As indicated by the priority issues identified in horticulturists in Australia with over 60 bird this review, effective management of pest birds species known to cause damage to horticultural requires: improved ability to predict patterns of crops. These species possess marked differences bird movement and damage; the development in feeding strategies, breeding behaviour and of simple techniques for estimating the extent movement patterns. There is high variability in, and severity of damage; adoption of strategic and uncertainty about, bird movements and management using improved damage reduction subsequent damage levels between and within techniques; reconciliation of legislation and seasons. responsibilities; and increased cooperation, collaboration and commitment from industry Horticulturists are also faced with increasing and government. Whilst the focus of this review social, environmental and legal issues that further is pest bird impacts on horticulture, most of the restrict the techniques that can be used to issues are of relevance to pest bird management reduce bird impacts. Of the techniques that are in general. available, few have been subjected to rigorous scientific assessment, and management solutions Horticulturists need to have a strategic approach are seldom suited to all bird species, crops and to managing pest birds which involves careful situations. As a result, the management of pest planning, consideration of the species involved, birds is one of the most difficult and challenging and estimation of the extent of damage before tasks facing horticulturists. and after control. This approach is the basis of a series of pest management guidelines prepared Despite these concerns, many industry and by the Bureau of Rural Sciences over the past government organisations have been reluctant decade through its administration of the National to invest in research to reduce the damage Feral Animal Control Programme — a Natural caused by birds. This may be partly due to a lack Heritage Trust initiative. Others in the series of information on the severity and distribution of include guidelines for managing feral horses, the problem. rabbits, foxes, feral goats, feral pigs, rodents, carp and wild dogs. Dr Colin J. Grant Executive Director Bureau of Rural Sciences Managing Bird daMage to Fruit anD other horticultural crops iii Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................................iii acknowledgments .........................................................................................................................................ix Key priorities to reduce pest bird impacts ................................................................................................. x introduction .................................................................................................................................................xiv Part a: general PrinciPles 1. The ‘strategic approach’ ...........................................................................................................................2 1.1 Define the problem ..................................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Develop a management plan .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Implement the management plan ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Monitor and evaluate .............................................................................................................................................. 9 2. Damage caused by pest birds to horticulture .................................................................................... 13 2.1 Susceptible crops ..................................................................................................................................................