Bird damage to select fruit crops: The cost of damage and the benefits of control in five states

Abstract

Fruit loss to birds is a long-standing and costly problem for many producers. We conducted a survey of Honeycrisp apple, blueberry, cherry, and wine grape growers in California, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Washington to estimate costs of bird damage and benefits of bird damage management. We also assessed grower perceptions of impacts on profits and effectiveness of bird management techniques. Current yield-loss estimates provided by growers and market price data were used to monetize current bird damage in each crop and growing region. Data on expected damage without management were used to estimate the benefits of bird damage management as it is currently being employed in the different crops and growing regions. We estimated that current bird damage costs per hectare ranged

American Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) vary in use of cultivated cherry orchards

“…Bird use and consumption of agricultural crops is often viewed as problematic (Weatherhead et al 1982, Anderson et al 2013). However, use of these habitats by birds may provide ecosystem services to growers (Whelan et al 2008) before and after harvest.…”

“…Orchards offer rich patches of foraging habitat with abundant food resources for birds, which may lead to conflicts with orchard growers (Simon 2008). Growers experience lost yields and often implement costly techniques to mitigate bird consumption of crops (USDA 1999, Anderson et al 2013. Fruit growers in New York, Michigan, and the Pacific Northwest have reported yield losses up to 31% in cherries, 18% in blueberries, and 9% in wine grapes because of birds; these losses amount to tens of millions of dollars (Anderson et al 2013).…”

“…Growers experience lost yields and often implement costly techniques to mitigate bird consumption of crops (USDA 1999, Anderson et al 2013. Fruit growers in New York, Michigan, and the Pacific Northwest have reported yield losses up to 31% in cherries, 18% in blueberries, and 9% in wine grapes because of birds; these losses amount to tens of millions of dollars (Anderson et al 2013). Knowledge of foraging patterns of avian frugivores in and around orchards can thus offer crop producers valuable information for mitigating bird consumption of crops through targeting species and times when fruit loss is greatest (Dolbeer et al 1994, Somers and Morris 2002, Tracey et al 2007).…”

Bird Damage to Fruit Crops: A Comparison of Several Deterrent Techniques

“…Bird damage to fruit is a serious economic issue across North America (Anderson et al 2013, Baldwin et al 2013, Gebhardt et al 2011) and globally (Somers and Morris 2002). A 2012 grower survey showed $189 million in annual losses to birds in cherries, "Honeycrisp" apples, blueberries, and wine grapes across five states, with aggregate benefits of bird management approaching $800 million annually (Anderson et al 2013). Bird damage also makes fruit more susceptible to Drosophila suzukii and other pests (Ioriatti et al 2015).…”

Effects of native biodiversity on grape loss of four castes: testing the biotic resistance hypothesis

“…Few studies evaluated grape losses by birds; however, the few studies that tried to quantify this problem suggest that changes are relatively small, namely lower than 5 % in South Africa (Dignon, 2013) and lower than 9 % in North America (Anderson et al, 2013).…”