Jon F. Heisterberg

Loss of corn sprouts to birds (predominantly common grackles, Quiscalus quiscula) was estimated in a O.5-ha plot in each of 270 fields in 36 counties in Kentucky in 1978 and 215 fields in 21 counties in Tennessee in 1979. Estimated loss of sprouts to birds in Kentucky and Tennessee averaged 0.15% (SE = 0.03) and 0.95% (SE = 0041), respectively, for a maximum projected grain harvest loss of about 4,600 metric tons in Kentucky and 12,400 metric tons in Tennessee. Although maximum calculated bird damage to sprouts for both states was $1.8 million, 453 (93%) of the 485 plots surveyed had...

In a survey to determine the extent of blackbird and mammal damage to ripening field corn in Kentucky and Tennessee, 268 0.5 ha plots in 23 Kentucky counties and 170 plots in 13 Tennessee counties were examined in the fall of 1977. Plots were randomly chosen so that counties with more corn had a greater chance of being surveyed. In Kentucky, blackbird damage to ripening corn averaged 0.48%, or approximately 609,000 bushels valued at $1,218,000 out of a total crop valued at $253,800,000. In Tennessee, blackbird damage averaged 0.39% or approximately 185,000 bushels valued at $380,000 out of...