Optimizing the use of decoy plots for blackbird control in commercial sunflower

Hagy, Heath M.; Linz, George M.; Bleier, William J.

doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2008.07.006

Cited by 34 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Previous studies have shown that at least 94 bird species use sunflower and other crop fields during the fall and spring in the NGP (Schaaf, 2003;Galle, 2005;Hagy et al, 2007). Hagy et al (2007) reported the occurrence of 12 species of conservation concern in the PPR using sunflower during migration (USDI, 2002;Rich et al, 2004;Butcher et al, 2007).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hagy et al (2007) reported the occurrence of 12 species of conservation concern in the PPR using sunflower during migration (USDI, 2002;Rich et al, 2004;Butcher et al, 2007). We observed one species of conservation concern (USDI, 2002;Rich et al, 2004;Butcher et al, 2007) in WCSP (bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, n 5 16), two in commercial sunflower (bobolink, n 5 31; northern harrier, Circus cyaneus, n 5 1) and two in non-sunflower crop fields (Franklin's gull, Larus pipixcan, n 5 1; lark sparrow, Chondestes grammacus, n 5 10) during point counts.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hagy et al (2008) reported on blackbird use of WCSP and surrounding agricultural habitats. Other studies have similarly omitted them from analysis due to their ubiquitous habitat use (Ribic et al, 2009a) and behavior (Lokemoen and Beiser, 1997).…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Post hoc models were formed because little published information exists on fall bird use of agricultural crop fields and we desired to use our experience gained while working in the study system to elucidate possible relationships between birds and landscape factors. Furthermore, in exploratory studies where little published information exists describing the study systems, it may be unreasonable to assume that researchers can formulate all possible and biologically plausible models before data collection (Hagy et al, 2008;Uyehara et al, 2008). Therefore, we formed post hoc models using SAS Proc MIXED to regress each independent variable (Table 1) singularly with each response variable and the random effect of year (null model), and ranked them from lowest AICc value (the best performing independent variables) to highest (the worst performing independent variable; Cunningham and Johnson, 2006;Hagy et al, 2008;Uyehara et al, 2008).…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, in exploratory studies where little published information exists describing the study systems, it may be unreasonable to assume that researchers can formulate all possible and biologically plausible models before data collection (Hagy et al, 2008;Uyehara et al, 2008). Therefore, we formed post hoc models using SAS Proc MIXED to regress each independent variable (Table 1) singularly with each response variable and the random effect of year (null model), and ranked them from lowest AICc value (the best performing independent variables) to highest (the worst performing independent variable; Cunningham and Johnson, 2006;Hagy et al, 2008;Uyehara et al, 2008). We used these AIC c scores and a posteriori knowledge of the ecological system to construct only biologically plausible post hoc models (Anderson et al, 2000;Johnson and Omland, 2004).…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots and Croplands as Fall Habitat for Migratory Birds

Hagy

Linz

Bleier

2010

The American Midland Naturalist

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ABSTRACT.-Agricultural fields are often overlooked as post-breeding and migratory bird habitat, even though many species use row-crop fields in the northern Great Plains. We monitored bird use, crop and non-crop vegetation characteristics and abundance, and land use around (#2.4 km) 35 8-ha Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots (WCSP) and one commercial sunflower and non-sunflower row-crop field, paired with each WCSP, in fall 2004 and 2005. We excluded four species of blackbirds from our analysis that commonly form large foraging flocks and ubiquitously use agricultural fields. A diverse community of migratory birds used WCSP and commercial sunflower compared to other non-sunflower crops in North Dakota. Both WCSP (mean 5 24.4 birds/ha, SE 5 2.7) and commercial sunflower (mean 5 12.7 birds/ha, SE 5 1.7) harbored greater densities of birds (P , 0.01) than did other non-sunflower row crops (mean 5 7.2 birds/ha, SE 5 1.1). Migratory birds were more strongly associated with vegetation within fields, such as crop density (+), non-crop plant abundance (+) and crop height (+), than surrounding land uses (0-2.4 km from WCSP). We recommend management practices to maximize WCSP for fall bird habitat and discuss economic considerations for WCSP implementation as a wildlife habitat / blackbird damage management system.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots and Croplands as Fall Habitat for Migratory Birds

Hagy

Linz

Bleier

2010

The American Midland Naturalist

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Spatially explicit modeling of blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region

Forcey

Thogmartin

Linz³

et al. 2015

Jour. Wild. Mgmt.

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Knowledge of factors influencing animal abundance is important to wildlife biologists developing management plans. This is especially true for economically important species such as blackbirds (Icteridae), which cause more than $100 million in crop damages annually in the United States. Using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the National Land Cover Dataset, and the National Climatic Data Center, we modeled effects of regional environmental variables on relative abundance of 3 blackbird species (red‐winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus; yellow‐headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus; common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula) in the Prairie Pothole Region of the central United States. We evaluated landscape covariates at 3 logarithmically related spatial scales (1,000 ha, 10,000 ha, and 100,000 ha) and modeled weather variables at the 100,000‐ha scale. We constructed models a priori using information from published habitat associations. We fit models with WinBUGS using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques. Both landscape and weather variables contributed strongly to predicting blackbird relative abundance (95% credibility interval did not overlap 0). Variables with the strongest associations with blackbird relative abundance were the percentage of wetland area and precipitation amount from the year before bird surveys were conducted. The influence of spatial scale appeared small—models with the same variables expressed at different scales were often in the best model subset. This large‐scale study elucidated regional effects of weather and landscape variables, suggesting that management strategies aimed at reducing damages caused by these species should consider the broader landscape, including weather effects, because such factors may outweigh the influence of localized conditions or site‐specific management actions. The regional species distributional models we developed for blackbirds provide a tool for understanding these broader landscape effects and guiding wildlife management practices to areas that are optimally beneficial. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Experimental assessment of laser scarecrows for reducing avian damage to sweet corn

Manz,

Sieving,

Brown

et al. 2023

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUNDBirds damage crops, costing millions of dollars annually, and growers utilize a variety of lethal and nonlethal deterrents in an attempt to reduce crop damage by birds. We experimentally tested laser scarecrows for their effectiveness at reducing sweet corn (Zea mays) damage. We presented 18 captive flocks of free‐flying European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) with fresh sweet corn ears distributed on two plots where laser and control treatments were alternated each day and allowed each flock to forage over five days. In 16 trials, fresh sweet corn ears were mounted on wooden sticks distributed from 0‐32m from laser units (Stick Trials), and in two trials birds foraged on ripe corn grown from seed in the flight pen (Natural Trials). We aimed to determine if laser‐treated plots had significantly less damage overall and closer to the laser unit, and whether birds became more or less likely to forage in laser‐treated plots over time.RESULTSLasers reduced damage overall, marginally in Stick Trials and dramatically in Natural Trials. Damage increased during each week in both trial types. Damage increased significantly with distance from lasers, and significant treatment effects occurred up until ~20 m from lasers.CONCLUSIONOur results concur with recent field trials demonstrating strong reductions in sweet corn damage when lasers are deployed. This study provides a first look at how birds respond to repeated laser exposure and whether damage increases with distance from lasers. Key differences between pen and field trials are discussed.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Optimizing the use of decoy plots for blackbird control in commercial sunflower

Cited by 34 publications

References 10 publications

Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots and Croplands as Fall Habitat for Migratory Birds

Wildlife Conservation Sunflower Plots and Croplands as Fall Habitat for Migratory Birds

Spatially explicit modeling of blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region

Experimental assessment of laser scarecrows for reducing avian damage to sweet corn

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