Evaluation of plastic and Mylar flagging as repellents for snow geese (Chen caerulescens)
1994; Elsevier BV; Volume: 13; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0261-2194(94)90106-6
ISSN1873-6904
Autores Tópico(s)Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
ResumoThe effectiveness of white flags, black flags and Mylar streamers as visual repellents to snow geese (Chen caerulescens) was evaluated. Five farms in Cumberland and Salem counties, New Jersey served as test sites. At each farm, four 10.12 ha fields were selected randomly, and then assigned to four treatment conditions: (a) white plastic flags (one flag per 0.4 ha); (b) black plastic flags (one flag per 0.4 ha), (c) Mylar streamers (one streamer per 0.4 ha); and (d) stakes only (one stake per 0.4 ha). From 2 December 1992 to 24 March 1993, vegetation samples and goose droppings were collected in all fields. Dropping weights were significantly less in black- or white-flagged fields than they were in fields with Mylar streamers or bare stakes. Although vegetation weights tended to increase in white- or black-flagged fields (and to decrease in fields with Mylar streamers or bare stakes), there were no significant differences. The results show that white or black flags can economically and effectively deter snow geese from agricultural fields, at least when alternative grazing sites are available.
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