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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187885
Title: FORAGING BEHAVIOR AND MONETARY IMPACT OF WADING BIRDS AT ARKANSAS BAITFISH FARMS

Author
item WERNER, SCOTT - USDA/APHIS
item HARREL, BRENT - USFWS
item WOOTEN, DAVID - USDI

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2003
Publication Date: 9/13/2005
Citation: Werner, S.J., Harrel, B.J., Wooten, D.E. 2005. Foraging Behavior and Monetary Impact of Wading Birds at Arkansas Baitfish Farms. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. v.36(3): 354-362.

Interpretive Summary: Foraging observations, food habits studies, and producer surveys were conducted to determine the foraging behavior and monetary impact of great blue herons, great egrets, and little blue herons foraging at Arkansas baitfish farms. Although great egrets captured most baitfish/minute, captures/strike were nearly identical among the three wading bird species. American gizzard shad, goldfish, and giant water bugs were collected from the gastro-intestinal tract of great blue herons. Only golden shiners and goldfish were found in great egrets. We found dragonflies, golden shiners, green sunfish, and water bugs in little blue herons. In contrast to other birds collected, snowy egrets were found to contain mosquito fish. Among 2,742 fish ear bones recovered from collected great blue herons, great egrets, and little blue herons, most ear bones belonged to the minnow family (including the baitfishes). Surveyed farm managers use various noise and visual stimuli to disperse fish-eating birds from their farms. Surveyed baitfish farmers suggested that the average cost of their annual bird harassment program was $11,580 at relatively small farms (< 202 ha) and $104,560 at relatively large (>= 202 ha) baitfish aquaculture facilities. We estimated the replacement cost of baitfish consumed by wading birds based upon their daily food requirements, the food habits of herons and egrets at baitfish farms, the hypothetical abundance of wading birds at a particular baitfish farm (relative to survey results), the duration of herons and egrets reported by farm managers, and current baitfish market values.

Technical Abstract: We conducted foraging observations, food habits studies, and producer surveys to determine the foraging behavior and monetary impact of great blue herons Ardea herodias, great egrets A. alba, and little blue herons Egretta caerulea foraging at Arkansas baitfish farms. Although great egrets captured most baitfish/minute, captures/strikes were nearly identical among the three wading bird species. American gizzard shad Dorosoma cepdeianum, goldfish Carassius auratus, and giant water bugs Hemiptera: Belostomatidae were collected from the gastro-intestinal tract of great blue herons. Only golden shiners Notemigonus crysoleucas and goldfish were found in great egrets. We found dragonflies Odonata, golden shiners, green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus, and water bugs in little blue herons. In contrast to other birds collected, snowy egrets E. thula were found to contain mosquito fish Gambusia affinis. Among 2,742 teleost otoliths recovered from collected family (including baitfishes). Surveyed farm managers use various auditory and visual stimuli to disperse fish-eating birds from their farms. Surveyed baitfish farmers suggested that the average cost of their annual bird harassment program was $11,580 at relatively small farms (<202 ha) and $104,560 at relatively large (> or = 202 ha) baitfish aquaculture facilities. We estimated the replacement cost of baitfish consumed by wading birds based upon their daily food requirements, the food habit of herons and egrets at baitfish farms, the hypothetical abundance of wading birds at a particular baitfish farm (relative to survey results), the duration of herons and egrets reported by farm managers, and current baitfish market values.