Bird Damage Research in Massachusetts 



Investigations of bird damage to commercial fruit crops In Massachusetts 

 were continued during this past summer. A review of past findings in this 

 study resulted in the initiation of a different approach to this troublesome 

 problem. Formerly research, was directed at the testing of scare devices which 

 would, if successful', give Immediate relief. Now, however, it is thought that 

 studies of the basic biology of the individual species involved will provide 

 much of the badly needed Information about behavior of depredating birds. 



No entirely successful scare device has yet been developed. Firearms give 

 immediate relief, but they require that the cropped area be regularly patrolled. 

 Reflectors and scarecrows are ineffective. Firecrackers and exploders give 

 temporary relief, but songbirds soon become accustomed to the noise and Ignore 

 it. Hawk and owl decoys give only temporary relief from bird depredation. 



Total enclosure of areas, especially small cultivated blueberry plantings, 

 has been the most satisfactory control measure to date. Such materials as 

 tobacco cloth netting, nylon fish net, chicken wire, and netting made from 

 twisted paper have been used for this purpose. They are all highly effective 

 but are expensive to install. 



A statewide fruit damage survey in 1962 showed a loss of 35 per cent of 157 

 acres of uncovered cultivated blueberries and a loss of 17 per cent of 220 acres 

 of peaches. A similar survey in 1961 disclosed a loss of 37 per cent of 121 

 acres of blueberries and a 3 per cent loss of 148 acres of peaches. Surveys 

 covering only cultivated blueberries for the years 1955-1958 have shown losses 

 of 38 per cent, 20 per cent, 19 per cent, and 27 per cent respectively. If these 

 surveys show a true pictttre of the bird damage situation then, we can assume 

 that this heavy economic loss is stable, even though local areas may be more 

 heavily damaged in some years than in others. 



Five hundred and fifty-seven birds were banded at the University orchards 

 during this past summer in order to trace bird movements. Two hundred and 

 forty-two of these, including robins, blue jays, starlings and bronzed grackles, 

 were marked with plastic-coated nylon wing tags for field identification. Some 

 of them were marked with numbered tags for individual field identification. 

 Local birdwatchers were then asked to report the sighting, location, species 

 and date of all marked birds seen. By October 1, 1962, 152 Individual sightings 

 had been recorded. Several of these sightings were undoubtedly repeats for the 

 same bird, as not all of the tags carried numbers and the numbered tags could 

 not be identified in every instance. Only 3 of these sightings were outside a 

 3 mile radius of the orchard. This shows that the fruit damaging birds remained 

 local for some time after being captured and released. Of notable significance 

 is the fact that only 19 of the marked birds were subsequently recaptured in the 

 University orchards even though intensive mist netting was carried out for the 

 entire fruit season. An analysis of this data shows that even though the marked 

 birds remained in the near vicinity of the orchards, most of them did not revisit 

 the area after once being captured. 



