Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Quelea quelea and some other species of weaverbirds (Ploceidae) cause severe damage to cereal crops in sahelian zones of Africa. Recent observations of weaverbird damage to cereals in the Lake Chad Basin show that crops grown in certain places at particular times are more likely to be damaged than others. Timing of harvest by varying planting times and selection of short-cycle cereals may avoid damage in some situations.