PAU EXPERTS DISCUSS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

LUDHIANA, JULY 20:-----



Birds, in general, are both useful and harmful to agriculture. About 300 species of birds of Punjab cause problems in crop fields and granaries, disclosed the experts of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Equipping the farmers with the management techniques for harmful birds, the scientists told that rose-ringed parakeet is the major bird pest that causes serious damage to almost all cereal crops and particularly, sunflower. Telling that parakeet is harmful to the farmers' interests, the experts revealed that house crows damage sprouting maize, sunflower and maturing maize while sparrows and weaver birds damage rice nurseries, maturing bajra and sorghum. Doves and pigeons damage pulses and along with sparrows and weaver birds, consume stored paddy worth about Rs 2.4 crore annually in Punjab, added they.



Providing tips for mechanical control of the birds in the fields, the specialists asked the farmers to make false gunshots at different intervals to scare the birds. Fixing of scare crows i.e. a discarded earthen pot painted to simulate human like head supported with wooden sticks and clothed in human dress to give a man like appearance, is one of the most effective traditional techniques to keep the birds away. The PAU experts emphasized that the position, direction and the dress of the scare crow should be changed at least 10 days interval and the height of the scare crow should be one metre above the crop height. They also advised the farming community to use automatic bird scarers by shifting their position periodically and supplementing their noise with actual gunfires. The other simplest method is the use of rope crackers, suggested the scientists and added that it involves tying of sets of small fire crackers at a distance of 6-8 inches apart and igniting it from the lower end. The explosions caused by fire crackers on catching fire at different intervals scare the birds feeding on sproutings. Farmers should fix up the rope crackers in the centre of the field during sprouting stage whereas in maturing crops, the rope should be fixed on a stick in the periphery of the field, stressed the farm experts.



Sharpening the skills of the farmers, the experts advised, "To reduce bird damage to maize, reflective ribbons of polyester strips with metallic coating of red colour on one side and silver on the other having 1.5 cm width should be used. The ribbons should be installed about 30 cm above the crop canopy in the parallel rows at 5 m distance in North-South direction at the milky stage of the crop." They suggested that if there are resting sites for birds nearby the fields, then one strip of reflective ribbon should also be installed on the boundary of the field."

Referring to the alarming calls, the experts told, "Playing of cassettes of distress or flock calls of parakeets and crows, respectively, in a tape-recorder at a peak volume for 1 or 2 h twice each in the morning between 7.00 to 9.00 a.m. and in the evening at 5.00 to 7.00 p.m. respectively, with a pause of one hour, scare the birds or halt their activities for full day in the freshly sown, emerging or maturing crops' fields and in orchards." The farmers can purchase the cassettes from PAU Centre for Communication and International Linkages, informed they while highlighting that use of distress or flock calls remain effective fro 15-20 days. For covering larger area, use of amplifier and addition of speakers as per requirements can be done.



Asking the farmers to follow cultural practices, they elaborated that sowing of maize and sunflower crop should be avoided at sites most frequently visited by birds or where there are more resting sites like trees, electric wires, etc. To prevent parakeet damage in sunflower and maize crops, sowing should be discouraged in small block areas, said the experts while suggesting that at least 2-3 acre block area is suitable for lessening bird damage pressure. The traditional practices of planting 2-3 border rows of less costly crops like millet, maize and dhaincha equally preferred by birds, will reduce the bird pressure to the inside sown cash crops, particularly sunflower and maize. The PAU experts told the farmers that planting of these crops act as physical barriers/wind breakers and help in preventing lodging during stormy/rainy days.



Predatory birds like owls, falcons, hawks, eagles, kites, etc., eat large number of rats and mice. Therefore, the useful birds should not be killed, said the experts to the farmers and emphasized that they can be attracted to the crop fields.
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