Abstract:

Blackbirds (Icterinae) in North America, and dickcissels (Spiza americana Gmelin), eared doves (Zenaida auriculata Des Murs), and monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus Boddaert) in South America can cause serious economic damage to grain crops. Farmers frequently advocate lethal bird damage abatement measures based on the perceived need to take immediate action to avoid serious economic losses. In comparison, wildlife managers must make informed decisions based on a multitude of factors, including local, state, and national environmental laws, administrative restrictions, logistics, costs, expected outcome, and cultural considerations related to wildlife stewardship. In this paper, we focus on practicality, environmental safety, cost-effectiveness and wildlife stewardship to evaluate efforts to manage avian crop damage using lethal control. In each case where a lethal program was initiated, at least one of these four tenets was violated and there was temporary relief at best.

Author affiliation: Linz, George M.. Northern Research Station. Department Of Agriculture; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Bucher, Enrique Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Canavelli, Sonia B.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Reg.entre Rios. Estacion Exptal.agrop.parana. Grupo Ecologia y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre; Argentina

Author affiliation: Rodriguez, Ethel. Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria; Uruguay

Author affiliation: Avery, Michael L.. Northern Research Station. Department Of Agriculture; Estados Unidos