Empowering Agricultural Professionals in the Midwest to Support Beneficial Birds and Discourage Pest Birds

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: demonstration, extension, networking, workshop
• Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, drift/runoff buffers, hedgerows, hedges - grass, hedges - woody, riparian buffers, wildlife
• Pest Management: biological control, cultural control, integrated pest management

In the Midwest, perching birds and
raptors play a vital role in controlling farm pests.
Many farmers see these birds as
beneficial (Kross et al. 2018) and want professional assistance
with determining how to support their reduction of insect pests
and rodents, and how to manage pest birds when they cause trouble
(Bardenhagen, et al. 2020). The majority of bird species that
visit farms are beneficial during nesting season when they
provide critical pest control services. We can encourage them
year-round by increasing farm habitat and diversity with
cost-effective on-the-ground integrated pest management (IPM)
practices. If pest birds are a problem, they can be discouraged
with specific practices during the short periods when they cause
damage.
 

To increase adoption of bird-friendly
and bird-deterrent practices on Midwest farms, agricultural
professionals and farmers must be trained on the latest research,
tools and resources that support and manage the roles of birds on
farms. To that end, WFA is
developing a comprehensive education project to empower
agricultural professionals to help farmers adopt sustainable pest
management practices, reduce reliance on pesticides and support
biodiversity. Key components of the project that will reach at
least 1,450 agricultural professionals and farmers include a new
publication focused on best practices for nesting structures;
three videos that highlight farmers and researchers; two field
days to demonstrate practices; a 10-webinar online training
course led by instructors who
have conducted avian pest control research, and/or have
experience with farm conservation practices and pest management
strategies; and an online
resource library.  

Products we will produce
include:  

• Five-minute
  videos: We will create three
  short videos highlighting farmer success with practices and
  research that supports avian IPM. Topics we anticipate covering
  include 1) using songbird nest boxes to support pest control on
  row crop farms; 2) conserving prairies
  that support beneficial birds for pest control in corn and
  soybean fields; 3) using habitat to support beneficial birds in
  cucurbit production. 
• Publication:
  We will produce printed and online
  versions of the Nesting
  Structures for Beneficial Songbirds on the Farm
  for the Midwest.
  This publication will address how to
  match the existing landscape (e.g. open field or forest edge)
  to the bird species that will likely be drawn there, concerns
  when placing the box, correct nest box designs and proper
  installation. It will also cover monitoring and maintenance
  activities that will support the long-term success of the nest
  boxes.  
• On-Farm Field
  Days: We will co-host two
  on-farm field days for agricultural professionals and farmers
  that will be ½ day long with multiple speakers and
  presentations, including a farm
  walk. 
• Online Training
  Course: We will create a
  10-webinar interactive online training course to empower
  agricultural professionals and farmers to incorporate practices
  that foster beneficial birds and manage pest birds. The course
  topics and one-hour classes will
  be: 

• • Class 1: Introduction and
    overview to birds as pest control allies on a
    farm 
  • Class 2: Beneficial songbirds
    for pest control and the insects they
    eat 
  • Class 3: Beneficial raptors for
    pest control 
  • Class 4: Nest boxes and perches
    and the birds who use them 
  • Class 5: Field edge habitat
    supporting beneficial birds in a multitude of
    crops  
  • Class 6: Prairies supporting
    avian pest control in adjacent corn and
    soybeans  
  • Class 7: Forestry stewardship
    for supporting birds in maple syrup
    production 
  • Class 8: Learning to co-exist
    and manage pest birds 
  • Class 9: Keeping farms safe for
    beneficial
    birds                                                              
  • Class 10: Habitat
    diversification to increase beneficial bird species
    
     

• Online Resource
  Library: We will compile the
  following in an online resource library, with downloadable pdfs
  (existing and newly created) videos (created through this
  project), for a wider reach of agricultural professionals and
  farmers to learn from during the classes and to use later when
  giving presentations themselves:
   

• • Recorded webinars in the online
    training course  
  • Three 5-minute
    videos 
  • Newly produced publication
    (Nesting Structures) 
  • WFA’s previously produced bird
    resources that support the online courses
    (Supporting Beneficial
    Birds and Managing Pest Birds
    and
    Beneficial Bird Native Plant
    Chart)