Graduation Date
1972
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Other
Program
Science
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Stanley W. Harris
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Charles Yocom
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. James R. Koplin
Keywords
Science
Subject Categories
Natural Resources
Abstract
Satisfactory and dependable techniques for preventing seed eating birds from damaging agricultural planting or from accidentally eating poisoned seeds meant for another vertebrate pest species are still under investigation. One method of controls which still needs further study, involves taking advantage of the aversion of birds to unnaturally colored food. The concept of using artificially colored seeds to repel birds has been used by various researchers since the late 1800's. Red lead applied to natural seed was found to be somewhat repellent to various bird species (Barrows 1889, Robertson 1926, Smith and Aldous 1947). Pearson (1913) found no deterrent effect when red lead was applied to forest seeds. Other colors also have been studied. Kalmbach (1943) used grain artificially colored with red, orange, green and blue on Bob-white Quail (Colinus virgini anus) raised in captivity. It was found that all the colors had a deterrent value, but red was most effective. In the same experiment, Kalmbach studied the effect of artificially colored seeds on a natural population of English Sparrows (Passer domesticus). The sparrows were repelled by yellow and green. Kalmbach also cited unpublished studies where yellow and green were found to be repellent to pheasants, chickens and waterfowl. Dambach and Leedy (1949), in a literature review, concluded that brilliant green aniline dye appeared to be a promising repellent color to avian species. An article in the Southern Lumberman (anon. 1954) stated that the Southern Forest Experiment Station used color in various ways to protect forest seeds from birds. The most successful results came from seeds covered with a layer of red saw dust. Blomquist (1965)found that dark blue-colored seeds were more repellent to pheasants and pigeons than red-colored seeds. Ridsdale and Granett (1969) found Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) preferred corn artificially dyed yellow to corn artificially dyed blue, green and red. Kalmbach and Welch (1946) experimented with colored grain with and without a poison. Their results showed that birds consumed strychnine poison grain without color at a higher rate than strychnine poison grain with color. The present study was undertaken to further investigate the use of colored and/or chemically-treated seed to repel birds. The objectives were (1) to find colors that would be repellent to Band-tailed Pigeons (Columba fasciata) and English Sparrows (2) to determine if an increased repellency could be attained by the addition of a repellent chemical, and (3) to determine if the reaction of males and females would be similar.
Recommended Citation
Benjamin, Clinton L., "Response of Band-Tailed Pigeons and English Sparrows to Colored and Chemically Treated Seed" (1972). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2352.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2352