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Rice field. (USDA-Agricultural Research Service photo ) 



significant levels) at the conclusion of the test in 

 treated plots than in untreated plots. Chemical 

 analysis of the spray formulation indicated caffeine 

 at 2.67 percent. Caffeine residues on rice panicles 

 immediately following the spray application averaged 

 407 pg/g and at the conclusion of the test (24 days 

 after spray application) averaged 195 pg/g. The 

 insignificant difference in repellancy between 

 treated and untreated plots for both repellants could 

 have been due either to low residue levels of the 

 repellants on the rice panicles and/or to increased 

 feeding pressure due to the high number of birds in 

 each enclosure, thus overwhelming the treatment. 



Chromaflair® "Crow Buster" Ineffective at 

 Dispersing American Crows and Red-Winged 

 Blackbirds — NWRC scientists evaluated the 

 ChromaFlair Crow Buster, a device developed in 

 Japan to repel Asian crows from garbage cans, 

 fruit trees, and utility structures. The Crow Buster 

 consists of an iridescent green-purple strip (1.5-3.5 

 cm wide) of stiff, shiny plastic cut into a spiral shape. 



Scientists estimated the influence of the Crow 

 Buster on the foraging distribution of red-winged 

 blackbirds and American crows in the NWRC 

 outdoor flight pen in Fort Collins. During the study, 



scientists monitored daily food consumption from 

 feed dishes placed 5 m, 10 m, or 15 m from a 

 vertical post used to suspend the Crow Buster. 



The Crow Buster had no apparent effect on the 

 foraging distribution of blackbirds. American crows 

 were repelled only during the first day of the test, 

 and even then only up to 10 m from the suspended 

 device. Results show the Crow Buster is not likely 

 to be effective at repelling red-winged blackbirds 

 and American crows under field conditions, where 

 most applications would require efficacy for at least 

 several days and at distances greater than 10 m. 



in 



The CinromaFlair "Crow Buster" consists of an iridescent strip of 

 stiff, sliiny plastic. Tfie device is used in Japan to repel Asian 

 crows from garbage cans, fruit trees, and utility structures. 



Viability and Potential Distribution of Crop Seeds 

 Ingested by Birds — ^The expansion of genetically 

 modified pharmaceutical and industrial crops to 

 outdoor plantings has generated concerns that birds 

 may ingest and disperse seeds from these crops to 

 other areas, potentially resulting in the contamination 

 of the human food supply. NWRC scientists, in 

 cooperation with APHIS' Biotechnology Regulatory 

 Services, conducted studies to determine digestion 

 and physical transport of commercial agriculture 

 seed corn, barley, safflower, and rice by captive 

 mallards, ring-necked pheasants, red-winged 

 blackbirds, and rock pigeons. 



Corn, barley, safflower, and rice seeds that were 

 either free fed or orally force-fed did not pass 

 through the digestive tracts of mallards, pheasants. 



Developing Methods 13 



