Hello, Tweets

I thought perhaps a few of you might be interested in what is being done to
control the redbilled quelea (Quelea quelea) in South Africa. The
redbilled quelea is *not* an introduced bird. It is a small finchlike
bird, rather attractive, which frequents savanna, open areas, and croplands
(therein lies the problem, of course). It is a nomadic species and can
number in the millions in its flocks. The flocks decimate wheat crops and
in a country where there is much malnutrition and starvation, this is a
problem of the highest degree. However, the poisoning and blasting methods
are being met with an outcry of criticism from the birding community and
others. For those of you interested, I have copied a message from our
equivalent birdlist in South Africa; for those of you not interested,
please delete.

To begin with and for an example: this is the "Quelea control info for
December 1998
Number of actions, 7; number of hectares affected - 24.9; number killed,
1,021,000, and the mean kill rate is 58%. Keep in mind that these are
actions taken monthly while the redbilled quelea are present.

"It is my opinion that all methods used to control these birds are wrong.
None of the methods are target specific and many endangered birds as well as
mammals and insects are killed in the process.

"During my two years at the ARC, working on Quelea's we had to monitor drift
and droplet sizes to determine the best spraying methods. In this period I
witnessed numerous spray controls. Where the birds roosted in reed beds it
was impossible to determine the success of the spray because of the
inaccessibility of the reeds, although many Quelea's were killed I also
noticed Weavers, Bishops and warblers. Wonder what happened to the
flufftails and Crakes ?

"In more open terrain the effect of the poison on other birds species was as
follows: Lots of blue waxbills, Melba finches, Shrikes and even a
Pearlspotted Owl all in one spray. Further more every living insect in the
vicinity was also killed and I believe that the following day the farmer
found a poisoned jackal.

"The final straw was at a sight near Thabazimbi where I warned the Nature
Conservationist not to spray, because of a large flock of raptors circling
over the Quelea colony. The spray went ahead and the following morning we
picked up 152 dead or dying raptors mainly Yellowbilled Kite, Black Kite and
Steppe Buzzard, also a Little Sparrowhawk and another Pearspotted Owl, plus
numerous bushveld species. Soon afterwards I resigned and followed a new
career as a Horticulturist.

"I wish that all of you could witness the suffering of these poisoned birds,
to see thousands of Quelea's fluttering under the trees is one thing but to
have a beautiful bird of prey die in your hands is something I will never
forget.

"The use of explosives is just as bad, the only difference is that the birds
are burned beyond recognition and this is suppose to make it a better method
of control. Again I would like to ask the question what about the
Bushbaby's, Mongoose and other mammals, non target birds and insects?

"I am sorry but I can not agree with any of the present methods of control.
All the money that goes in to a 58% killing rate could've been used for
further research, perhaps it is time that you follow the new trade in the
horticultural industry and develop DNA specific pesticides that will kill
only the target specie without negative effects on the environment.

"I would sincerely like to see all methods of Quelea control to be stopped
until such a pesticide has been developed, in the meanwhile why not utilize
the enormous protein value of Quelea's. One flock can feed thousands of poor
people and it may even become a delicacy in restaurants, something like
roasted Quelea with garlic sauce."

For further reading there is an article at a website:
<http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/bn7_3_00.htm>

It seems to me (and I know little of this sort of thing) that it would be
more cost effective and certainly far more beneficial to the environment
and wildlife if the government could pay people for the crops ruined. I
know, I'm a Democrat, and it shows! But, I've been following this thread
for some time on their list and the many examples of what this *control*
method does, is unconscionable to me. Anyway, just my own opinion.

Best regards,

Diann MacRae
Bothell
tvulture at halcyon.com