Track 3. Managing and Co-Existing with Birds

Lesson 5 - Managing Pest Birds

Presenters: Dr. Page Klug - USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services & Dr. Catherine Lindell - Michigan State University

Dr. Klug's main focus is managing the conflict between sunflower producers and birds with methods including frightening devices, wildlife repellents, wetland management, and decoy crops. Optimization of methods takes into account blackbird biology and the influence of landscape at multiple biological levels and geographic scales.

Dr. Lindell is most interested in avian behavior and ecology in managed ecosystems. Alongside her research team, she combines theoretical and applied approaches to the study of the behavior and ecology of birds and the roles of birds in ecological functions and ecosystem services. She is particularly interested in how to make managed landscapes more hospitable for species that contribute significant ecosystem services.

Continued Education Credits/Units Approved:

Learning Objectives

• Explain the crop feeding/damage risk of birds that move in large flocks and the management techniques used for them as opposed to those that don’t.
• Recommend several types of visual, audio and other bird deterrents and how to use them
• Describe the reduction of pest birds by attracting American Kestrels with boxes and by supporting raptors with perches
• Recommend the best features for an American Kestrel box

Presentation Recording

Videos

WFA Publications

• Supporting Beneficial Birds and Managing Pest Birds

Articles

- Dr. Catherine Lindell

• Shave et al. 2018. Falcons using orchard nest boxes reduce fruit‐eating bird abundances and provide economic benefits for a fruit‐growing region. Journal of Applied Ecology 55:2451-2460.
• Rivadeneira et al. 2018. A Review of Bird Deterrents Used in Agriculture. UC Davis, Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference 28:218-223.
• Clark et al. 2020. Nest Box Entrance Hole Size Influences Prey Delivery Success by American Kestrels. Journal of Raptor Research 54:303-310.
• Shave and Lindell. Installing and Monitoring American Kestrel Nest Boxes in Orchards. Michigan State University.
• A "luzury" nest box design example for American Kestrel from Dr. Lindell's research and presentation.

- Dr. Page Klug

• Clark, B.A., P.E. Klug, P.M. Stepanian, and J.F. Kelly. 2021. Using bioenergetics and radar-derived bird abundance to assess the impact of a blackbird roost on seasonal sunflower damage. Human-Wildlife Interactions 14(3):427-441. doi: 10.26077/9c95-48eb
• Kaiser, B.A., B.L. Johnson, M.H. Ostile, S.J. Werner, and P.E. Klug. 2021. Inefficiency of anthraquinone-based avian repellents when applied to sunflower: the importance of crop vegetative and floral characteristics in field applications. Pest Management Science 77(3):1502-1511. doi: 10.1002/ps.6171
• Egan, C.C., B.F. Blackwell, E. Fernandez-Juricic, and P.E. Klug. 2020. Testing a key assumption of using drones as frightening devices: Do birds perceive drones as risky? The Condor: Ornithological Applications 122:duaa014. doi: 10.1093/condor/duaa014
• Klug, P.E. 2017. The future of blackbird management research. pgs 217-234. In: G.M. Linz, M.L. Avery, and R.A. Dolbeer, editors. Ecology and management of blackbirds (Icteridae) in North America. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
• Linz, G.M. and P.E. Klug. 2017. Strategies for evading blackbird damage. pgs 175-189. In: G.M. Linz, M.L. Avery, and R.A. Dolbeer, editors. Ecology and management of blackbirds (Icteridae) in North America. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
• Werrell, A.K., P.E. Klug, R.N. Lipicious, and J.P. Swaddle. A Sonic Net reduces damage to sunflower by blackbirds (Icteridae): Implications for broad-scale agriculture and crop establishment. Crop Protection 144:105579. doi: 10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105579