October brings cooler weather, changing fields and one other thing farmers need to watch:
Blackbirds.
Across the northern Great Plains, blackbirds gather in large numbers from late summer into fall as they prepare for migration. USDA's National Wildlife Research Center identifies August through October as an important period for these large gatherings. (USDA APHIS)
By October, those birds may already have established feeding and roosting patterns.
And if they've found your crops, livestock feed or grain, they may keep coming back.
Migration takes energy.
Blackbirds need reliable food sources as they prepare for their seasonal movements, and agricultural areas can provide plenty of it.
Sunflowers are a major target, but blackbirds can also feed on corn, rice, sorghum, fruit and other crops.
USDA estimates that blackbirds cause more than $150 million in direct annual damage to U.S. grain, fruit and berry crops. (USDA APHIS)
So when you see large flocks in October, don't assume they're simply passing through.
They may have found a food source worth returning to.
Sunflower producers know how quickly bird pressure can become expensive.
Red-winged blackbirds, common grackles and yellow-headed blackbirds are among the species associated with sunflower damage.
USDA estimates that blackbirds cost sunflower producers in North Dakota and South Dakota approximately $4–7 million each year. (USDA APHIS)
And sunflowers aren't the only concern.
Blackbirds can also cause significant damage to corn, rice, sorghum and fruit crops.
The more birds you have, the faster small losses can add up.
October bird pressure can also show up around dairies, feedlots and grain facilities.
Starlings and blackbirds are attracted to livestock operations because they can provide food, water and shelter.
USDA identifies feed consumption and contamination as concerns associated with large concentrations of these birds around livestock operations.
So if you're seeing blackbirds in your fields, take a look at the rest of the operation too.
Check:
The field may not be the only place they're causing problems.
One of the best ways to understand a bird problem is to watch what the birds are doing.
Ask yourself:
Where are they feeding?
Where are they drinking?
Where are they roosting?
What time of day are they showing up?
Are the numbers increasing?
If the same flock keeps returning to the same location, you've learned something important.
You've found a resource the birds want.
That could be food, water, shelter, or all three.
One of the biggest mistakes with pest birds is waiting until the problem becomes impossible to ignore.
By October, birds may already have established routines around an agricultural operation.
Waiting can mean more crop loss, more feed consumption and more contamination.
Instead, look for the problem early.
If you see a growing flock, start tracking where those birds are coming from and where they're going.
That information can help determine how the problem should be managed.
Farmers often use the word "blackbirds" to describe several different species.
But a red-winged blackbird, common grackle, yellow-headed blackbird and European starling aren't the same bird.
They can behave differently and use agricultural properties differently.
That's why bird identification matters.
Know what you're dealing with before deciding how to manage it.
Fall migration is underway, and October can be a critical month for watching bird activity around agricultural operations.
Look at your fields.
Look around your feed.
Check your water sources.
Watch your silage and grain areas.
And pay attention to where birds are gathering.
Because the flock you see today may be telling you exactly where your next bird problem is developing.
See the birds. Find the attractant. Understand the behavior. Then build the right management plan.
If starlings, grackles, blackbirds or other pest birds are becoming a problem around your crops, feed or livestock operation, Avitrol can help you identify the bird pressure and develop a management strategy for your site.
Don't wait until the flock gets bigger.
Start by spotting the problem.