Kross, S.M, J. M. Tylianakis, and X.J.
Nelson. 2011. Effects of introducing threatened falcons into vineyards on
abundance of passeriformes and bird damage to grapes. Conservation Biology 26:
142-149. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01756.x/pdf
In their recent article published in Conservation Biology,
Kross and researchers (2011) found a way that a threatened falcon species can
benefit agriculture, while receiving protection. Vineyards are regularly raided
by birds, such as Blackbirds (Turdus
merula), Song Thrushes (Turdus
philomelos), and Starlings (Sturnus
vulgaris), which eat or cause damage to the grapes. When the threatened New
Zealand Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae)
was introduced into the vineyard as part of a “Falcons for Grapes” conservation
project, it effectively reduced the abundance of vineyard pests and decreased
the number of grapes removed by a whopping 95%! The researchers calculated that
the presence of falcons can potentially save the vineyard US$234/ha for the
Sauvignon Blanc variety of grapes and $326/ha for Pinot Noir variety of grapes.
These numbers should be enough to convince any vineyard owner to consider
becoming involved in the protection of at-risk falcon species.
Previously, the methods used to scare away birds were just deterrents,
like loud noises, which the birds could easily become accustomed to. But, with
the new falcon approach, it costs less money to implement, and its
effectiveness saves more money in the long run. Not to mention, that you are
part of an important conservation effort that you can feel good about. Already,
in places like Sonoma County, CA, where vineyards are a big business, falcons
have been trained to chase away pesky birds (but not to eat them because that
takes too long; Bussewitz, 2011).
The reason this paper caught my attention was because the
Okanagon Valley in B.C. relies strongly on vineyards and wine production. It
would be interesting to see if a program involving the protection of the
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus; a
species red-listed in B.C.) or other falcon species in the area would benefit
from this sort of relationship. Kross and researchers paper was a very fitting
way to wrap up what we have been talking about in class: Economics and
conservation can go hand-in-hand after all! What a perfect example of
conservation and agriculture working together to produce a positive outcome
that benefits both parties.
Word Count: 390
Supplementary Info:
Bussewitz,
C. 2011. Falcons guard Sonoma County
vineyard. The Press Democrat: 1-2.
Cool! That is awesome to see a success story for both parties involved. Not to mention the birds that are being chased away are not being harmed either! Do they train the falcons to not fly away? or how do they ensure that they stay with their vineyards? I really enjoyed your blog!
ReplyDeleteIn the ones that I looked at trained in Sonoma County, the falcons wore radio trackers so that if they flew away the owner would know where to find them. But generally they dont fly away because the owner feeds them, so they prefer to come back for an easy meal. So those ones are specifically trained for that job, but I think the ones that were looked at in the research paper were just introduced into the area and werent specifically trained. So they would eat some of the other birds, but not enough for it to be a problem. But mostly the pest birds would know not to go into that area because there is a predator around
DeleteReally great blog Ashley, very well written. That is an amazing conservation story! I think the okanagan would benefit tremendously with the increased frequency of falcons residing in the vineyards. I'm curious though if the falcon in the California area was a native species. It's name sounds as though it was introduced from a New Zealand population. If that were the case this would be supporting the conservation of an alien species for the benefit of farming.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I had a feeling this would confuse people....the main paper was based in New Zealand on the New Zealand falcon, but I also looked at a news article that was talking about how falcons are being used in California, but it didnt mention what kind of falcon. I dont believe it would be the New Zealand falcon, though, so no worries about alien species!
DeleteThis is great. In my paper on Pallid bats one article looked at the ablitiy of the Pallid bats feed on insects in vinards rather than their regular foraging strategy in open ponderosa pine or grasslands. They found that Pallid bats prefer their normal habitat but still can and will forage on the big bugs found in vinyards. This along with the felcan can be a huge help to the okanagan valley. A start to truelly being green.
ReplyDelete-Christina
This is a great example of people working with nature and not against it! I LOVE IT!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome blog! I really like the idea of integrating these Falcons into vineyards to help protect the grapes. I think this is a great way to get people involved in conservation strategies. Although you mentioned that these Falcons will eat the pests once in awhile, I wonder if they become pretty much solely dependent on the owner's feeding them or if they still will hunt on their own and catch mice and other rodents etc in the vineyards.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog!! but you mentioned that the falcons were trained?? Does that mean that they are falcons that have been raised in captivity ?? If so do they sleep inside or in a cage or do they have homes within the vinyards? Im curios to know the implications having a few trained falcons has??
ReplyDeleteI looked at two different types: falcons that were just released into the area and falcons that were specifically trained. I believe the trained ones were kept in captivity.and sleep in cages. In the other case, the vineyard is made a suitable habitat for the falcons (artificial nesting sites if need be, etc.) so they stay there because there is abundant food source and good habitat.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good example of biological control! I know around here we have lots of the acoustic deterrants, but those can have a negative impact on other local wildlife and neighbourhoods (I know families who had to move because they couldn't handle the constant noise stress). I hope this is the direction conservation will take.. that is.. killing two birds with one stone (pardon the pun).
ReplyDelete