United States rj-Dc.rtr.2nt of the Interior 

 Bureau of Biological Survey 



Wildlife Leaflet 3S-149 



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— "'' '--ghington , . D r » 0. 



U. S. t 



ITov nrt 1 1 



PROTaCTIFG FIjBTJ) CROPS ffB OM jfAIE " MEANS 



of hp. ;>i:to:.s if lQ stolv sacohs 



By F. M. Uhler, Biologist, Section of Feed Habits, Divi a 



search, and Stephen Creech, G-ara© Maaa^eaent Agent, Division of 

 nient . 



Protective experiments . 



Buckwheat in Michigrn. 



Rice in Arkansas . . . 



Lettuce i n T ..'a s h ingt on . 



Damage by ducks to field 



crop? in Mj ehigan . . . 



Contents 



Page 

 1 

 1 

 2 



C ens t rue t i n an i u se of d 1 er • 



rents 



Spinner reflector?; 



Evolving beacons 



0o::ts 



I 



3 



._ 



r 



Waterfowl occasionally damage cultivated crops in many parts of the 

 United States, "cat under normal conditions there birds are an important 

 wildlife asset, and therefore everything possible ; ' be dene to conserve 

 an adequate supply. While their damage must be controlled, it 

 by methods that are not destructive to the' birds. In fact, destruct: 

 action, other than shooting in accordance with bhe regulations luring the 

 open season, can be legally taken only under permit from t ;reau of Bi - 

 logical Survey. A leaflet (BS-13) , issued b- the Survey In 193 . 

 "Protecting Grain Crops from Damage by Vat erf owl, w discusses J :he nat u 

 the damage end presents suggestions for prot 1 



let is intended as supplement, particularly to recommend measures for tl 

 protection of field crops without destroying the birds. 



■P E0Trc T ir r -- ,- rs 



r-. 1 • 



During the fall of 193S, xperin nts h protecting cr 

 in buckwheat fields adjacent to Si r Pay, Mic . . • here : : - al- 



water ducks, particularly black ducks . ■ 



experiments were tai pon a combination of 

 successfully used in large rice fields in Arkansas County, 

 the ripened crop against nocturnal depn ards v .-. . | 



and in lettuce fields alon{ the Colui ... 



vent damage by baldpates ( Mareca americana ) . 



