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SCIENTISTS:
Andrew A. Radomski , Research Wildlife Biologist
Technicians:
Troy Bader, Research Wildlife Biologist Technician
OBJECTIVES:
Piscivorous birds (especially double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, egrets, herons, anhingas, storks, and diving ducks) and other vertebrate predators (notably mammals, turtles, and snakes) can cause significant direct and indirect losses to the aquaculture industry. Therefore, our objectives are:
Objective 1: Develop and evaluate new, improve existing, or adapt alternative techniques to minimize depredation at aquaculture facilities.
Objective 2: Assess and evaluate regional populations of fish-eating birds and other potential vertebrate predators that threaten or increase the risk of predation at aquaculture facilities.
Objective 3: Identify spatial and temporal differences between nonmigratory and migratory cormorant populations to enhance management efforts within aquaculture areas.
Collaborative Research with LSU Engineers
and U of A Engineers
Modifying Technologies to Minimize Bird Depredation
Bird depredation research at USDA-ARS-HKD SNARC focuses with developing cost-efficient methods to minimize bird depredation within the aquaculture industry and to resolve fish-eating bird problems with alternative solutions that minimize human-bird conflicts.
On-going research addresses concerns of baitfish and catfish
producers in Arkansas and the southeastern US. Bird depredation researchers are determining the efficiency of both lethal and non lethal practices used within the industry as well as new products entering the market.
Numerous bird species are studied. However, the primary birds
of concern include the double-crested cormorant ("water turkey"),
American white pelican, diving ducks, herons, and egrets.
The resurgence of cormorant numbers across the country has been accompanied by requests for federal and state agencies to act.
Innovative Research Ranges From High Tech (remote sensing) to Low Tech (AR barrier method)
We have been actively monitoring cormorant numbers by air and ground within the catfish production areas of southeastern Arkansas for the past 9 years (1999 - 2008). The information we gathered will help us understand populations within the state and provides data to assess possible management plans for this bird.
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