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Location
Saratoga Springs, NY
Start Date
4-5-2009 12:00 AM
Description
The National Sunflower Association considers high levels of blackbird damage in key sunflower growing areas of North Dakota as a major reason for growers replacing sunflower with less susceptible crops. We used an extensive dataset of blackbird damage in North Dakota from 1972 to 2008 to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in damage to ripening sunflower. Long-term damage assessments are invaluable tools for wildlife damage managers because of shifting cropping patterns and resultant new blackbird-crop interactions. For example, as corn acreages in North Dakota have recently increased, so have complaints from growers about blackbird damage to corn. This lends some credence to the notion that cornfields might provide an alternate food for foraging blackbirds, especially during early maturation. Additionally, agricultural practices continue to change. Glyphosate recently became available as a pre-harvest aid for sunflower to control weeds and speed dry-down by 10 to 14 days. This practice reduces late-season damage by migrating blackbirds. In 2009 a new sunflower desiccant, designed to quickly dry the crop, is expected to receive a full crop registration. In 2008, we began conducting damage surveys in 120 randomly selected plots scattered throughout the primary sunflower growing area of North Dakota. Our aim is to capture the dynamics of blackbird damage to sunflower as agronomic practices change. We will compare these data with past damage data to answer questions on the effects of crop patterns and agronomic practices on bird damage to sunflower.
Recommended Citation
Linz, G., Slowik, T., Penry, L., & Homan, H. (2009). Changes in sunflower crop distribution and agronomic practices in North Dakota may affect levels of blackbird damage. In Boulanger, J. (Ed.), The Thirteenth Wildlife Damage Management Conference (262). Saratoga Springs, NY: Thirteenth WDM Conference.
Included in
Changes in Sunflower Crop Distribution and Agronomic Practices in North Dakota May Affect Levels of Blackbird Damage
Saratoga Springs, NY
The National Sunflower Association considers high levels of blackbird damage in key sunflower growing areas of North Dakota as a major reason for growers replacing sunflower with less susceptible crops. We used an extensive dataset of blackbird damage in North Dakota from 1972 to 2008 to evaluate spatial and temporal changes in damage to ripening sunflower. Long-term damage assessments are invaluable tools for wildlife damage managers because of shifting cropping patterns and resultant new blackbird-crop interactions. For example, as corn acreages in North Dakota have recently increased, so have complaints from growers about blackbird damage to corn. This lends some credence to the notion that cornfields might provide an alternate food for foraging blackbirds, especially during early maturation. Additionally, agricultural practices continue to change. Glyphosate recently became available as a pre-harvest aid for sunflower to control weeds and speed dry-down by 10 to 14 days. This practice reduces late-season damage by migrating blackbirds. In 2009 a new sunflower desiccant, designed to quickly dry the crop, is expected to receive a full crop registration. In 2008, we began conducting damage surveys in 120 randomly selected plots scattered throughout the primary sunflower growing area of North Dakota. Our aim is to capture the dynamics of blackbird damage to sunflower as agronomic practices change. We will compare these data with past damage data to answer questions on the effects of crop patterns and agronomic practices on bird damage to sunflower.