[wisb] Black Fly control for protecting birds
- From: Martin Murphy <martin.e.s.murphy@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: wisbirdn <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 20:30:37 -0500
Hello birders,
Last year, I was unable to save 23 bluebird hatchlings on my bluebird
trail from the onslaught of black fly infestation. Now I learned that
a large pecentage of Loons are abandoning their nests in Oneida and
Vilas counties because of the flies.
This year, I have been using a combination of vanilla/rose pettle
natural liquid mixture that has helped save most of the hatchlings.
You can also get specific information from BRAW about using Pyrethrin
in a diluted form sprayed on hatchlings (avoiding the eyes and mouth)
3 days or older and the nest boxes, as well.
The insect problem seems to be getting worse on bird populations, as
are the biting species of the black flies. This occurence was not
even noticable several years ago in my area of S.W. Wisconsin. I
believe, that those individuals who do not monitor their boxes are
leaving death traps for the bird species that inhabit them. Putting up
a nest box and not performing any due diligence for the bird's
fledgling success will actually cause more harm than not putting up
the box in the first place.
Since the biting flies are mostly gone by July, later nesting and
second nesting for birds may prove to be more successful. More
information and research should be made readily available to all
birders, including the WSO, about this increasing black fly problem.
Martin Murphy
Crawford County
Mississippi River Bluffs
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