EFFECT OF ARTIFICIAL PERCHES AND NESTS IN ATTRACTING RAPTORS TO ORCHARDS

Abstract

Artificial perches and nest boxes were placed in three Pacific Northwest orchards to assess their effectiveness in attracting birds of prey to reduce vole populations. The data indicated that birds could be attracted under some conditions, but vole populations were not significantly affected. Additional factors such as vegetative biomass and human activity may limit their usefulness in reducing rodent populations under intensive agricultural conditions