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Location
North Carolina State University
Start Date
22-9-1985 12:00 AM
Description
In 1984 4-aminopyridine baits, stabilized with hydrochloric acid, were appraised in ripening cornfields being attacked by blackbirds on the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota. In 1982, it had been discovered that 4-aminopyridine, the active agent in commercial Avitrol® baits for crop protection rapidly vaporized at summer storage and field baiting temperatures.
In July, baiting lanes were created in 12 cornfields by destroying every 55th row. In August after a 3-day pretreatment period, fields were baited with Avitrol® FC Corn Chops-99 for a 2-week period when corn was most vulnerable to damage. Bait was applied from baiting lanes at the rate of 1 lb/acre of field with an electric seeder mounted on an all-terrain cycle. Rebaitings were made at half the initial rate; 0 to 3 rebaitings were needed, largely because of depletion of baits by insects and rodents. An insecticidal pretreatment, 5% carbaryl pellets, did not significantly lower the rate of bait depletion. Blackbird damage was 87% less (P=<0.001) during the baited than the pretreatment period (19 vs 142 bu of corn lost per day). From 2,000 to 17,000 blackbirds, mostly red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, were observed in test fields.
An estimated 825 dead or affected blackbirds and 1 mourning dove were observed or collected in test fields.
Application of baits on baiting lanes with a seeder mounted on a cycle proved both economical and efficient. About 100 acres/h were baited at an estimated cost of/acre/application. About $5:50 worth of corn was saved for each $1 spent for bait and loss of corn yield in baiting lanes. Growers would have saved about $400/h for time spent in creating lanes and baiting.
Recommended Citation
Besser, J. F., & De Grazio, J. W. (1985). Reformulated 4-aminopyridine baits cost-effectively reduce blackbird damage to ripening cornfields. In Bromley, P. T. (Ed.), The Second Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (pp. 125-134). Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University.
Included in
Reformulated 4-Aminopyridine Baits Cost-Effectively Reduce Blackbird Damage to Ripening Cornfields
North Carolina State University
In 1984 4-aminopyridine baits, stabilized with hydrochloric acid, were appraised in ripening cornfields being attacked by blackbirds on the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota. In 1982, it had been discovered that 4-aminopyridine, the active agent in commercial Avitrol® baits for crop protection rapidly vaporized at summer storage and field baiting temperatures.
In July, baiting lanes were created in 12 cornfields by destroying every 55th row. In August after a 3-day pretreatment period, fields were baited with Avitrol® FC Corn Chops-99 for a 2-week period when corn was most vulnerable to damage. Bait was applied from baiting lanes at the rate of 1 lb/acre of field with an electric seeder mounted on an all-terrain cycle. Rebaitings were made at half the initial rate; 0 to 3 rebaitings were needed, largely because of depletion of baits by insects and rodents. An insecticidal pretreatment, 5% carbaryl pellets, did not significantly lower the rate of bait depletion. Blackbird damage was 87% less (P=<0.001) during the baited than the pretreatment period (19 vs 142 bu of corn lost per day). From 2,000 to 17,000 blackbirds, mostly red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, were observed in test fields.
An estimated 825 dead or affected blackbirds and 1 mourning dove were observed or collected in test fields.
Application of baits on baiting lanes with a seeder mounted on a cycle proved both economical and efficient. About 100 acres/h were baited at an estimated cost of/acre/application. About $5:50 worth of corn was saved for each $1 spent for bait and loss of corn yield in baiting lanes. Growers would have saved about $400/h for time spent in creating lanes and baiting.