Falconry in Pest Bird Management

Choosing a Falconer

Abatement Falconry Business Models

Habitat Enhancement

Bird Management

Sponsored by

The Oregon Blueberry Commission
&
The Washington Blueberry Commission

perch near truck

Perches

Growers interviewed for this project...

noted that perches seemed to draw in raptors.

did not recommended perches by themselves to reduce bird pest populations specifically.

saw pest birds as well as insect eating birds taking advantage of the perches.

did not think that perches encouraged pest birds to stay perched in an area, noting that perches make pest birds easy targets for raptors.

Perch recommendations

Add man-made structures. Studies have not shown raptors to prefer natural structures over man-made structures using natural materials, and we did not find any studies which compared perches made from synthetic materials such as plastics to natural materials; however man-made structures such as telephone poles, wooden planks and nesting boxes, have been shown to attract raptors.

Minimize or schedule human activity in the field. Perches located in a field with little cover and little human activity may find increased raptor use. Raptors may also adapt to scheduled human activity by using the field when humans are not present.

Take notice of the natural structures already present in or surrounding a field. Raptors may already be using such prime real estate. Natural structures include: old trees, stumps and snags.

Click on these links for recommendations on perch placement and perch size.

Click on the green tab above to open or close perch recommendation information.

Advantages

Raptors my use power-lines as perches most often in the morning. Morning activity indicates that raptors use perches not only to rest and eat, but also to hunt, as this is when prey species are more active. (Oles, 2007)

One study also found perches to be more successful at drawing in raptors than nesting boxes. (Askham, 1990)

Perches may offer the added benefit of possible rodent and insect management because many nocturnal as well as day-time raptors use perches.

Migratory as well as resident raptors may use perches, suggesting that they can be a year-round biological pest management strategy.

Nesting boxes can be built or placed on the pole or base structure of a perch.

Disadvantages

While compiling information for this guide, we did not find any conclusive evidence indicating that perches and nesting boxes increase raptor hunting behavior─ the essential skill for effective pest bird management.

Perches may be less effective when other factors, such as human activity, poor or uninhabitable environment, and season outweigh their presence.

Not all raptors hunt from perches.

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