Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences
Date of this Version
September 1985
Abstract
Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) acceptance of corn as a bait for use in ripening sunflower has been questioned. This study demonstrated that sunflower meats, sunflower achenes, and pearled barley all have potential as alternative bait carriers for 4-AP. Each can be treated with 4-AP so that individual bait particles carry dosages equivalent to those of cracked corn in the registered product, Avitrol FC Corn Chops 99S. Treated baits produced a distress response in redwings in times ranging from 21.7 min (sunflower meats) to 64.5 min (sunflower achenes). The time to distress elicited by sunflower meats coated with 4-AP was similar to that obtained with cracked corn baits used in the commercial product. Simulated rainfall or contact with moist soil resulted in a loss of 4-AP from all treated baits. Sunflower achenes proved the most durable of the baits, retaining 75% of their original 4-AP content following 1/4 in of simulated rainfall.