Intl. J. of Mol. Evol. and Biodivers. 2015, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1-4
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1. A reduced farm output in affected communities and
the nation as a whole.
2. Shortage of food for human population
3. Malnutrition and
4. Possibly encouraged poverty
Control methods
Methods of controlling RBQ damages on farmlands
include:
Scaring by humans
This is a traditional method of controlling Quelea
birds on farmlands. People go into the fields when
their grain crop is vulnerable, using anything from
banging to noise making (Plate 2). One person can
protect a hectare but it is very tedious because the
crops are vulnerable from dawn until dusk and could
need protection for a whole month (Elliot, 2010). This
may be quite effective on a small scale farm but not
practical on a large scale. Where farming is more
mechanized, such devices may be supplemented or
replaced by firecrackers, exploders, or other
noisemaking devices. Firing may have to be as often
as once every 5 minutes during the feeding periods.
The position should be changed every 2 days and the
direction of firing every day (Elliot, 2010).
Plate 2 Traditional bird scaring
Note: Source: Cheke, 2007
Snaring
Slinging stones or small mud balls towards the birds.
Some people are quite handy at correct aiming such
projectiles with catapults and slings. This is also a
traditional method of bird control in affected areas
(Elliot, 2010).
Scarecrows
This is the erection of human-like features on the
farmland to scare away the birds. Scarecrows position
must be changed every 2 days in order to be effective.
This is only applicable to small scale farming. This is
also a traditional method of bird control in affected
areas (Oduntan et al., 2009).
Trapping
Trapping involves covering the farmland of crops by a
net with a sufficiently small mesh to prevent the
passage of Red-billed Quelea. This method is an
expensive technique, only justified for high-value
trials and seed plots (Elliot, 2010). This is also a
traditional method of bird control in affected areas
(Oduntan et al.,
2009; Elliot, 2010).
Chemical repellents
Repellents such as methiocarb which causes
conditioned food aversion (Rogers, 1974) and
4-aminopyridine, a frightening agent (De Grazio et al.,
1972) have been used in the control of Red-billed
Quelea. This method appears too costly for practical
use in maturing rice. This method is modern and it has
great negative environment implication, especially due
to its impact on non-targeted biodiversity species
(Oduntan et al.,
2009; Elliot, 2010). Although the use
of avicides such as Fenthion have been recorded
(Elliot, 2010) in developed countries for birds control;
there is however no record of known in Nigeria
hitherto. Avicides are sometimes sprayed aerially with
the use of a helicopter or plane particularly on large
expanse of land.
There was also no record of biological control method
found yet in the country. This involves introduction
and boosting of the natural predators of Red-billed
Quelea. The natural predators include herons, storks,
falcons, goshawks, owls, hornbills, rollers, kingfishers,
crows and marabou. This is seen as the best method of
controlling these avian pests since this method do not
affect the ecosystem negatively.
Recommendation
Farmers need to be adequately educated and made
aware of the danger and consequences associated with
the use of chemical repellant for Quelea bird control
