More habitat = more insectivorous birds = fewer crop pests

​University of California, Division Agriculture and Natural Resources recently hosted a blog post I wrote with Rachael Long.

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Read our post here:

Birds are beneficial too!

Published on: April 24, 2019 Across the globe, scientists have shown that birds can be farmer allies. Insectivorous birds feed on damaging insect pests in many crops including coffee, cacao, oil palm, corn, cabbage and apples. Raptors, including hawks and barn owls, feed on rodents, including gophers, voles and mice (see blog, Barn owls help clean up rodents naturally).

Glad to see the word spread on the beneficial services birds can provide to growers!

#Birds help control insect pests on farms. Birds are sometimes pests themselves, but they're beneficial too. https://t.co/NJwDULr12P pic.twitter.com/hdQn2NWMSx

— Ag&Natural Resources (@ucanr) April 24, 2019

ICYMI: #Birds can be beneficial to agriculture! In the video, a white-breasted nuthatch preys on codling moth larva, a serious ag pest. Read more about it from our scientists @sachaheath and @BatsRLong: https://t.co/NJwDULr12P pic.twitter.com/GzXX0lIehF

— Ag&Natural Resources (@ucanr) April 25, 2019