SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP30175S

Development of a Preferred Bait for Quelea Control

Source

Three factors that could influence bait acceptance and palatability (seed size, hardness, and color) were evaluated on small groups of African red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea). The birds were first adapted to feeding on mixed grain from automatic two-choice preference testing devices that alternated positions of the standard and test baits every 5 min. Before testing, the birds were exposed to all levels or formulations of bait for 6 h per day for five days. Preference test data were obtained in four 6-h sessions by using relative consumption (percent preference for test bait) as the dependent measure. Particle sizes tested ranged from 0.3 to 1.8 mg/granule; 6.0 mg hulled proso millet was the standard. All quelea preferred standard whole seed to granules of millet. Ground millet flour, bentonite, and different moisture levels (8, 10, 14, or 16%) were used to achieve different bait pellet textures. This variable had an effect on preference at the lowest (8%) moisture level, indicating that soft, dry pellets are significantly rejected by quelea. Color preference data indicated that red or yellow-green colored millet seed was rejected when compared with the standard yellow millet; however, these effects were not within acceptable levels of statistical significance (P < 0.07). When light levels were reduced and the color-preference test replicated, significant (P < 0.01) preference changes were noted, suggesting that feeding behavior tended to be random with the color stimuli made less visible.

Author Information

Shumake, SA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colo.
Gaddis, SE
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colo.
Garrison, MV
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colo.
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Details
Developed by Committee: E35
Pages: 118–126
DOI: 10.1520/STP30175S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4883-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0213-2