Resources News Managing Bird Damage in Blueberry Wildlife damage management has become more of a problem as large areas are planted to single crops, such as blueberries, and use restrictions for repellents and toxins have increased. While it is seldom possible to prevent total damage, much can be done to reduce impact on wildlife within legal and economic constraints. Of all the wildlife that blueberry growers have to contend with, birds rank as one of the most important. Although many species of birds will feed on blueberries, the principal species that cause losses are starlings, robins, and finches.
Birds are difficult to manage because they are the most mobile of all wildlife.
They move quickly from one area to the next. They have also learned to take advantage of new crops that replace natural food sources within their range. These crops become important supplements to their native food and, like blueberries because of their high protein and sugar content, often are preferred over their normal diets. Birds feed on different food patches throughout the year. They move from one to another, sometimes feeding on two or more patches as they ripen.