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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154870
Title: QUARTERLY ARTICLE FOR THE CATFISH FARMERS OF ARK. NEWSLETTER (CATFISH CHANNEL)

Author
item Radomski, Andrew
item Collins, Charles
item Kinkaid, William
item Freeman, Donald

Submitted to: Catfish Channel
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2003
Publication Date: 10/30/2003
Citation: RADOMSKI, A.A., COLLINS, C.M., KINKAID, W.C., FREEMAN, D.W. QUARTERLY ARTICLE FOR THE CATFISH FARMERS OF ARK. NEWSLETTER (CATFISH CHANNEL). CATFISH CHANNEL. 2003. v.43. p.4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We have expanded our research to consider how effective the string barrier technique ("Arkansas Technique") would be at deterring cormorants at increasing distances from a large roost site in Chicot County. Our logic was that if cormorants flew greater distances from the roost site (picture below), they would probably be more likely to land on catfish ponds with the strings. So, we set up 4 control and 4 strung ponds using 6 privately owned catfish farms. At each farm, we had control ponds (no strings) and 2 stringing arrangements (pictured below): 1. Strings arranged in parallel series of 12 posts/levee at 100 feet and 2. Strings using a criss-cross pattern on 12 posts/levee at 100 feet. We found significantly more cormorants on the control ponds (19.8 birds/hr) than either strung ponds (1.2 and 1.0 birds/hr on the parallel and criss-cross ponds, respectively). Also, the amount of time the birds stayed on the ponds differed; cormorants stayed 15.0 minutes on the control ponds and only 3.0 and 1.0 minute on the parallel and criss-cross ponds, respectively. Other items to note were that 227 cormorants were deterred (0.70 birds/hr) during our observations. The farms furthest north of the roost site had significantly more birds on control ponds (4-10x's) and farms furthest from the roost site had significantly more birds on parallel strung ponds. However, only 2 of the 6 farms had birds land on criss-crossed ponds. Although this technique is not the "silver bullet" to prevent all birds from landing on your ponds, it does offer some hope and economic relief. We recommend the "Arkansas Technique" to minimize bird problems at your farm, especially the fingerling ponds and those ponds that typically have bird problems, and that it be used in conjunction with your current bird hazing program.