Abstract
Methods aimed at reducing avian damage to agricultural crops are routinely implemented in situations where efficacy can be assessed by quantifying blackbird (Icteridae) abundance relative to environmental variables and extrapolating to ensuing crop damage. Concomitantly, Weather Surveillance Radar (WSR) data may have potential to enhance crop damage mitigation through improved monitoring of nuisance wildlife populations. We used WSR to derive daily abundance estimates of blackbirds at a fall roost in North Dakota, USA from 2012 to 2019. We integrated these estimates with previously developed bioenergetics-economic models to estimate local sunflower (Helianthus annuus) damage. The greatest losses usually occurred during a brief period in October, when peak blackbird abundance coincided with large percentages (>50%) of mature but unharvested sunflower fields. Most sunflower fields were harvested later than peak blackbird abundance (360,000–1,120,000 birds) and maximum daily damages ($900–$2,000 USD per day). This seasonal trend suggests advancing harvest time as a strategy to avoid the greatest losses in yield (up to $1,800 in savings at this 1 roost), which may be attainable by earlier planting of early-maturing crop varieties or crop desiccation.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Greatest sunflower losses usually occurred briefly in October with peak blackbird abundance and many unharvested mature fields.
- Taxon
- sunflower
Helianthus annuuse0 - Interactor
- blackbirds
Turdus merulae1pest - Outcome
- greatest lossese0
- Direction
- greateste0
- Qualifier
- brief period in Octobere0
- Setting
- North Dakota, USAe1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The greatest losses usually occurred during a brief period in October, when peak blackbird abundance coincided with large percentages (>50%) of mature but unharvested sunflower fields”
e1“blackbirds at a fall roost in North Dakota, USA”
Claim · model-written summary
Most sunflower fields were harvested after peak blackbird abundance of 360,000–1,120,000 birds.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuuse0
- Interactor
- blackbirdTurdus merulae1pest
- Outcome
- fields were harvestede0
- Direction
- later thane0
- Value
- 360,000–1,120,000 birdse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Most sunflower fields were harvested later than peak blackbird abundance (360,000–1,120,000 birds)”
e1“peak blackbird abundance (360,000–1,120,000 birds)”
Claim · model-written summary
Maximum daily damages were $900–$2,000 USD per day.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuuse1
- Interactor
- blackbirdTurdus merulae2pest
- Outcome
- daily damagese0
- Direction
- maximume0
- Value
- $900–$2,000 USD per daye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“maximum daily damages ($900–$2,000 USD per day)”
e1“local sunflower (Helianthus annuus) damage”
e2“peak blackbird abundance (360,000–1,120,000 birds)”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors suggest earlier harvest to avoid losses, with up to $1,800 savings at one roost.
- Taxon
- sunflowerHelianthus annuuse1
- Interactor
- blackbirdTurdus merulae2pest
- Outcome
- advancing harvest timee0
- Value
- up to $1,800 in savings at this 1 rooste0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“advancing harvest time as a strategy to avoid the greatest losses in yield (up to $1,800 in savings at this 1 roost)”
e1“sunflower (Helianthus annuus)”
e2“peak blackbird abundance coincided with large percentages (>50%)”