- 2 



they probably fed on the buds for their food value. On the other 

 hand, if the orchard is located in an area which is relatively 

 heavily populated, as many of our southern New England towns are, 

 grouse may not be the culprit. With the increased number of bird 

 feeders in such an area, many bird species may be attracted to 

 that region. If the feeders remain empty for a period during a 

 snow storm or other adverse conditions that create inconveniences 

 for those who feed the birds, some bird species, such as Grosbeak, 

 may turn to bud feeding. Again, the feeding is simply fulfilling 

 an energy vacuum. 



Du 



1 em as 

 be more 

 vol ved 

 er resi 

 bird wh 

 migrate 

 main as 

 which t 

 causing 



2 blueb 

 in thes 

 tall fo 

 Bal timo 

 a res id 



ring th 

 to why 



of a m 

 in summ 

 dents , 

 ich mig 



south , 



year-r 

 he frui 



the da 

 erry pi 

 e plant 

 rest an 

 re orio 

 ential 



e summe 

 the bir 

 1 i V a t i 

 er dama 

 such as 

 rate 

 but 

 ound 

 t i s 

 mage . 

 a n t i n g s 

 ings we 

 d no ho 

 1 es . I 

 area, b 



so 

 fr 

 re 

 lo 



r months when th 

 ds feed is somew 

 ng drive than hu 

 ge, including a 



the oriole, rob 

 uth in the winte 

 equently large p 

 sidents.) Again 

 cated may lead t 

 For example, ser 



less than a mil 

 re different spe 

 uses, the damage 

 n the other plan 

 luejays were a p 



e fruit i 

 hat more 

 nger. Ma 

 number of 

 in, redwi 

 r. (Appa 

 report ion 

 , the eco 

 clues c 

 ious bird 

 e apart, 

 cies. In 

 was infl 

 ting, whi 

 rime feed 



s ripen 



compl ex 



ny spec 



strict 



ng blac 



rently , 



s of th 



1 ogical 



oncerni 



damage 



The pr 



one, s 



icted 1 



ch was 



er . 



ing, 

 . Th 

 ies m 

 ly wa 

 kbi rd 



some 

 at sp 



situ 

 ng th 



occu 

 imary 

 urrou 

 argel 

 surro 



the prob- 

 irst may 

 ay be in- 

 rm-weath- 

 and cow- 

 bl uejays 

 ecies re- 

 a t i n in 

 e species 

 rred in 



culprits 

 nded by 

 y by 

 unded by 



M 

 to the 

 Young 

 food a 

 tors r 

 fully 

 unabl e 

 to mea 

 the lo 

 costs 

 what p 

 deci de 



uch 

 fled 

 fledg 

 nd ar 

 e 1 a t i 

 inade 

 to a 

 sure 

 ss sh 

 more 

 ercen 



f the 



gling 



1 i ngs 



e aim 



ng to 



quate 



ccura 



damag 



oul d 



than 



tage 



dama 

 s of 



have 

 ost a 



seve 



when 

 tely 

 e, th 

 be in 

 the d 

 of th 



ge th 

 sever 



1 ess 

 Iways 

 rity 



we a 

 asses 

 e nex 

 veste 

 amage 

 e los 



at occurs in the summer may be related 

 al species, such as bluejays and orioles, 

 fear, are less selective about their 

 hungry or thirsty. There are many fac- 

 of bird damage, and our records are woe- 

 ttempt to measure damage. We are simply 

 s it at this time. When we have learned 

 t problem will be: What percentage of 

 d in control measures? If the control 

 , it obviously won't be feasible. But 

 s is a feasible investment? This we must 



Our knowledge of how to control bird damage is very limited, 

 but we do know that carbide guns and similar noise makers are in- 

 fluential against bluejays and orioles "when properly used." Un- 

 fortunately, "proper use" in one situation may not be "proper" in 

 another. Apparently, the abundance of "wild" food in an area is 

 related to the effective use of carbide guns. If there is an abun- 

 dance of wild food, the guns will deter the birds from the crop 

 much more readily than if there is a limited wild food supply. 



Currently, crop protection with various types of netting ma- 

 terials is an extensive type of control being attempted in some 

 areas. These nets are expensive and generally are inefficient pro- 

 tection for such crops as cherries, peaches and apples. Perhaps 

 where bud damage is severe. We'll need a new type of culture sys- 



