Deterring Wild Birds during Fruit and Vegetable Production

Wild birds can be serious pests on farms by damaging produce and introducing food safety hazards to production fields and packinghouses. The most serious crop damage is usually caused by fruit- or seed-eating species such as blackbirds, cardinals, robins, or crows, whereas other species such as sparrows, finches, and starlings can take up residence in farm buildings and quickly become a nuisance. Creating an effective management plan to deter wild birds from fields and buildings begins with correctly identifying bird species and the damage that they are likely to cause. Just as different kinds of pest insects target different plants at different times of the year, not all birds feed in the same way, nor at the same time. Targeting deterrence strategies toward specific species is more cost-effective than a “catch-all” approach and reduces the likelihood that nontarget species are affected. The most effective management plan will be targeted toward specific problem species at specific times of year and may involve mixing and matching different deterrence strategies.