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Bird management in grain facilities By: Peter McCarthy Abstract Throughout the history of grain storage, companies have struggled with the impact of many organisms on grain, storage facilities and finished food products. One key issue is that of exotic and native pest birds. Pest birds can affect grain and the process of food/grain storage facilities in a number of ways. This includes physical damage, grain contamination, spread of disease, respiratory problems and other illnesses and finally damage to buildings, vehicles and other machinery. There are a number of simple concepts that must be recognised in order to manage bird populations. These relate to the behavioral characteristic of individual and flocking pest birds. “Bird pressure” is a methodology by which the behaviour and commitment of birds to a site can be understood. The level of pressure on a site is classified and appropriate mitigation techniques applied. Techniques that can be used to manage populations include physical exclusion devices and deterrents to minimise or eliminate bird-grain interaction. Introduction Increasingly, exotic and native pest birds are inflicting high levels of pressure on the supply chain of the grain industry. The increasing demands for and implementation of food safety requirements under the guidelines of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) and other auditing programs will see the need for increased awareness and management programs to control pest bird populations throughout Australia. Pest bird species also have a significant impact on the occupational health and safety (OH&S) of staff and visitors to sites where they are present. Instances where disease and illnesses have been transmitted directly or indirectly to humans are well documented. Bird species that effect grain storage facilities are predominately the same pest species that have been found to cause problems in urban domestic and commercial structures. Dominant bird pest species include pigeons, starlings, mynahs and sparrows. There are however significant differences between rural and urban situations. One major variation is the nature of the physical structures involved, and it is these that determine the most appropriate mitigation methods. Whereas in the urban setting bird control is focused around domestic homes, retail centres, major buildings, factories and food processing and manufacturing facilities. In the grain storage area structures requiring attention include manufacturing facilities, silos, trucks, machinery and open fields. An additional problem in regard to grain facilities is the huge quantity of produce in a single location and the great variety of food stored there. As such both a range of species and large pest bird populations are likely to be attracted to a site, resulting in immense problems. In addition to the aforementioned pest bird species of pigeons, starlings, mynahs and sparrows, in the context of grain storage it is native cockatoo species that present the greatest challenges. In the natural environment cockatoos spend much of their time foraging. In grain areas, however, cockatoos are able to consume their daily requirement of food very quickly. Consequently not only do cockatoos eat and spoil the grain, but they also have additional time free from usual foraging needs, wherein they inflict physical damaged to structures with their strong hooked beak and generally get up to mischief. The differences in structures, species and problems that is encountered both between and within rural and urban areas means that there is a great need for a structured methodology to approaching the problem of pest bird control. Without such a methodology there is a risk that mistakes and flawed approaches will be repeated, that valuable commodities will be lost, and that adequate control of potential disease will not occur. Bird Pressure Methodology One such extensively applied and proven methodology in the urban setting is that known as “bird pressure”. This approach is successful in both problem identification and the presentation of mitigation options in most cases. The basis of bird pressure relies firstly on the observation of bird behavior. The best approach to mitigating pest bird problems is then determined based heavily upon the level of commitment that the individual, small group or flock birds have to the site. The level of commitment to a site is of such importance because it is largely this factor that will determine the birds ability and desire to reclaim their former territory once a management system has been put in place. Bird pressure is a classification of the site, and in most cases a grain storage facility offers extreme bird pressure. Classic situation of extreme bird pressure in grain storage facilities include:
When a facility offers a population of birds all the basic needs required such as food, water and shelter, the flock size can grow rapidly. If left unchecked in a suitable climate, a pair of birds of a highly fecund species such as sparrows can multiply to 2000 within the space of 12 to 18 months. Once the bird pressure has been determined there are a host of control methods that can be applied. These include one or combinations of exclusion, physical deterrents, acoustic, ultrasonic and scare devices. Other approaches include population reduction methods such as trapping, shooting, poisoning (Avicides), irritants and taste deterrents. No single method alone is able to offer a suitable result. When used in combination, however, a series of methods may form a highly successful management program. Such a program is likely to incorporate requirements for facility operators to increase housekeeping regimes, make alterations so that there is reduced bird access to food, make regular observation of bird populations size and behaviour, and remain constantly vigil. Origin: Pest IT Pty. Ltd.
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