Bovine-avian interactions on dairies: improving cow welfare and farm economic stability by implementing effective and sustainable bird deterrence methods

Pest bird damage to vineyard, orchard, and berry acreage has been a focus of recent research; however, much less is known about how pest birds affect dairies. In other areas of the U.S., the impact of the non-native European starling on dairies has been linked to significant economic damages and disease transmission concerns. The pest bird problem in the Pacific Northwest, especially regarding European starlings, has been compounded with changes in land use and agricultural practices over the past 20-30 years. In a recent survey of approximately 50 dairy producers in Washington, respondents valued their pest bird damage losses between $1,000 and $200,000/dairy/year. Furthermore, survey participants described a wide variety of bird deterrent techniques (most commonly shooting and poisoning) they have implemented, with low levels of effectiveness. Other bird deterrent options such as professional falconry or native raptor attraction are potentially more cost effective and environmentally sustainable, but most producers do not understand the nature and costs of these options.
Before specific bird deterrent techniques can be recommended to producers, a better understanding of the true economic losses dairy producers face due to pest bird damage must be achieved. Results from a comprehensive survey of dairy producers focusing primarily on producer perceptions of bird damage on their farms, coupled with on-farm bird counts and feed bunk loss experiments, will provide a foundation from which to make pest bird control recommendations in the future.
Although literature documents the potential disease vector role of starlings, no known studies have evaluated the impact of pest birds on dairy cow behavior and welfare. Video recordings targeting dairy feed bunks will shed light on pest bird-cow interactions that occur when cows are feeding and whether pest bird presence is detrimental to dairy cow welfare. Documenting feed quality loss and Escherichia coli O157:H7 prevalence at the feed bunk will also lead to a more accurate estimate of bird damage costs.
By assessing bird populations, cow behavior and related health factors, and feed losses, this project will result in a comprehensive identification of economic impacts of pest birds for producers in the region. By further conducting pilot efficacy trials of falconry and native raptor attraction techniques, the project will provide information on sustainable bird deterrence techniques.