Evaluation of Flight Control® to reduce blackbird damage to newly planted rice in Louisiana

Authors

John L. Cummings, National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Patricia A. Pochop, National Wildlife Research Center
Richard M. Engeman, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow
James E. Davis Jr., National Wildlife Research Center
Thomas M. Primus, National Wildlife Research Center

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

July 2002

Comments

Published in International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation.

Abstract

Blackbirds cause extensive damage to newly planted and ripening rice. To date there is not a registered bird repellent for reducing this damage. We evaluated Flight Control®, a 50% anthraquinone product, as a potential repellent to blackbirds in cage and field tests in Louisiana. In one- and no-choice cage tests, brown-headed cowbird and red-winged blackbird consumption of 2%) Flight control® treated rice seed was significantly reduced. In a subsequent field test. 2% Flight control® was effective in reducing blackbird damage (P = 0.001 ) to newly planted rice seed. Chemical residues at 7 days post-planting averaged 0.66% anthraquinone. Further field testing is warranted.