Many farmers consider sparrows, grackles, and starlings to be a nuisance. Dairy farmers are concerned about the amount of feed that the birds eat and cows may refuse to eat when birds defecate in cow feed. Birds also defecate on and foul truss members, and noise can be an issue in naturally ventilated barns. Poultry producers are extremely concerned about potential disease transmission via these wild birds. Fruit growers are concerned about product loss due to severe bird infestations.
A new Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Update, Natural Bird Control Around Dairy Facilities, BAEU-15, by Gary Duke and Kevin Janni, describes how to build and install nest boxes and perches to attract American kestrels (Falco sparverius) or "sparrow hawks" to help control starling, blackbird, and sparrow numbers around dairy facilities. The update notes that dairy producers have reported on Dairy-L, a listserve on the World Wide Web, that either an owl or American kestrel in the area can help reduce bird problems. The update also reports that poultry producers have had success attracting kestrels for bird control and have enjoyed watching the attractive birds prowl the sky. Use of kestrels was generally considered successful in reducing grain losses in research plots after nest boxes and perches were installed.
The American kestrel is a small falcon, the smallest in the United States, about the size of a jay or robin (9- to 12-inches tall), that feeds mainly on small birds, large insects, and mice. The males, which are slightly smaller than the females, remain in Minnesota during the winter while the females migrate south. Kestrels have reddish or rust colored backs and tails and black and white facial markings. The males have blue-gray wings.
The update is available on the World Wide Web through the University of Minnesota Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering web site (http://www.bae.umn.edu) under Extension and Outreach (http://www.bae.umn.edu/extens/). Printed copies can also be obtained by contacting the University of Minnesota Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department (612-625-7024). You can learn more about American kestrels through the Raptor Center web site (http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu).
This page is part of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department web at http://www.bae.umn.edu/