Starling Resistant Feeders Starling-resistant feeders
B.C. Tree Fruit Co- operative. In-kind and cash donations are made by other co-ops and private companies and individuals, and are welcomed to help further the control work. The Starling Aware campaign is partly funded by the B.C. Investment Agriculture Foundation, and includes a public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging the general public to help reduce nesting sites for the birds.
Through presentations to groups, display booths at public events and other activities, the aim is to make people aware of the damage the birds cause and how to reduce their numbers in the Okanagan.
The educational
materials include advice for people who put out backyard bird feeders such as: • Use a rubber-coated mesh to cover feeders, which excludes birds as large as starlings.
• Use a starling-proof, covered suet feeder.
• Catch surplus seeds from under the feeder with a garbage can.
Okanagan-Similkameen
bcga@nethop.net
Because they are a very mobile species of bird, determining their origin is vital to achieving control. In 2014, there were four trappers working on contract in the three Okanagan regional districts, reports Connie Bielert, administrator for the BCGGA.
In all, 72,000 birds were captured in 2014, with more than 29,000 in the north, 20,000 in the central valley and 23,000 in the south.
The program is funded by the three regional districts, the BCGGA, the B.C. Cherry Association, the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association and the
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Spring 2015 23
STARLING CONTROL & AWARENESS PROGRAM
www.grapegrowers.bc.ca
• Offer niger or safflower seeds instead of wild bird seed mixes.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36