see http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/rodenticides-kill-wildlife ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Hello Peter
Alas no. In Australia, large retailer buyers put pressure on farmers/orchardists to have third-party accredited audit systems in operation on the farm for food safety purposes. This includes a pest control program, especially targeted at rats because their droppings harbour salmonella. One auditor told me that if they found a single rat dropping in your farm shed, then technically you had a pest problem. The control program usually entails placing rat bait stations around the farm/orchard and regularly replacing the baits. The bait stations are removed during harvest. Farmers usually buy their rat baits from the local agricultural produce store. If you comply with this, you will pass your audit. If you want to use pest control via owls and raptors, I imagine the auditor would want you to prove its efficacy with some data (which farmers don’t have the time or experience to gather).
In Queensland, some sugarcane and macadamia farms have owl boxes as part of their pest control. In Malaysia, they also use this approach but still bait when rodent activity exceeds a certain limit.
In my experience, it is strangely rare to see barn owls in south east Queensland whereas out west they are common. I suspect they are a victim of our pervasive food bureaucracy and institutionalized rodent baiting. It is a matter of serious concern and one that we need to watch.
Cheers
Andrew
_____
href=”mailto:birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au [mailto:birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of Peter Shute Sent: Wednesday, 15 December 2010 4:54 PM
I got the impression that the problem they’re discussing is around buildings, where that approach can’t work because the rats being targeted are often indoors, then wander out to die.
Peter Shute
I got the impression that the problem they’re discussing is around buildings, where that approach can’t work because the rats being targeted are often indoors, then wander out to die.
Peter Shute
Debbie
That is a very interesting read about the Ireali farmers increasing the numbers of Barn Owls to help reduce mainly rodent pests by erecting heaps of nest boxes and hunting perches for them. Were not the cane farmers in Queensland once doing something similar to this?
Greg Little
Peter, If you do decide to play some rodent muching noises recordings just be sure there are no farmers in earshot! Drought, flood , locusts AND rodents ……..
said Hanrahan
I was interested to read about the technique they use to trap the owls: “The scientists have to carefully put the mice inside cages that will protect the mice when an owl swoops down, attracted by the rodents noisily munching on the crackers that Hindmarch is unwrapping.”
It made me wonder if one could play a recording of a munching rodent to get a better view of an owl. Obviously you couldn’t call one in from a distance like that.
Peter Shute
href=”mailto:birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-bounces@vicnet.net.au ============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) href=”mailto:birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au”>birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ==============================