Birds as a Natural Pest Control Agent
Written by Scott W. Holland
When we think of pest control methods we often think of pesticides, poisons or even traps. Today, chemical pesticides are the most common form of pest control, with over 2.5 billion kilograms used annually worldwide. Sadly, this has caused both animals and humans alike to suffer adverse effects including pesticide poisoning and even death.
In place of harmful chemicals, animals have been used as natural pest control agents, and chief among these are birds, due to their appetite for insects, spiders and rodents. Some of the different birds used are Swifts, Swallows, Flycatchers, Bluebirds, Robins, and Jays. For purposes of our discussion, I want to focus on just three.
First is the Yellow Warbler, a beautiful bright yellow bird with reddish-coloured streaks on its chest. The female doesn’t have the distinctive streaks however they both have beautiful, solid dark eyes. At about 5 inches in length, this little bird really shines as a natural pest control agent in the coffee plantations of the Caribbean and Central America. There they patrol the plantations looking for the destructive Coffee Bean Borer Beetle. In Costa Rica alone, the Yellow Warbler helped reduce the infestation of the Beetle by 50%. This not only helped coffee farmers realize better yields, but also avoided scarcity which helped keep prices in check for us coffee lovers.
Our second bird is one you might not have expected. It’s not a songbird, but a raptor. It is none other than the American Kestrel. An incredibly colorful bird, this little raptor is part of the falcon family and is the smallest falcon in North America, only about the size of a Mourning Dove. The Kestrel’s main diet consists of insects, snakes, lizards and small rodents. A great natural pest control source and a beautiful bird to see in person. Sadly, Kestrel numbers are declining, and these little raptors are now considered endangered or threatened in many parts of North America.
Our last bird is the beautiful and often amusing Chickadee. All types of Chickadees possess common characteristics and are considered insectivores. During the summer a Chickadee’s diet can be almost entirely made up of spiders, caterpillars and other insects, which helps reduce crop damage in orchards as well as in our backyard gardens. Besides their overwhelming cuteness and frivolity, the Chickadee is an important part of maintaining harmony in our gardens while helping us enjoy an evening outdoors without insects ruining the experience.
When we allow nature to manage itself, we’re often amazed at the efficiency and effectiveness in which it carries out its role. Understanding our world around us and the various interplays that occur in maintaining balance can leave some to wonder why we ever started manipulating nature in the first place. But that’s a discussion for another time.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about these three wonderful birds and that you’ll join me again next time as we discover new and amazing things happening right outside our door.