Crow damage to almonds increasing; no foolproof solution in sight

Abstract

In a survey of commercial tree crop growers in California in 1987, damage by birds (including crows, blackbirds and magpies) to almond, walnut, prune, peach, pear, kiwifruit and cherry crops was reported. Of the 145 surveys returned, 64 were from commercial almond growers. Most growers felt bird damage was increasing, with crows the main cause, due to increasing numbers of birds. During the summer following the survey, 11 almond growers were interviewed. Ten of these reported crop damage by crows, 4 said it was greater than in previous years, 4 said it was the same, and 2 said it was less. It was estimated that the average yield reduction from damaged almond trees (on average, 15% of trees), was 20-25%. Shooting was the most common control method, followed by gas cannons, hawk kites and electronic noise makers, but no method was considered very effective.