Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

4-aminopyridine, a chemical frightening agent, has proved effective for protecting field corn, sweet corn, sunflowers, peanuts, and pecans from attack by birds, chiefly blackbirds. Problems in more effective use of the product, Avitrol FC Corn Chops 99, by growers include restricted availability; a restricted number of certified applicators, few of whom have the time to attain an adequate knowledge of bird damage problems and to put forth a concerted and maintained baiting effort that is necessary to obtain the best results; a weakness in use directions that causes much of the bait to be squandered or used less effectively; and application and bait costs that have risen faster than the value of crops, primarily because restrictions on product use have resulted in treatment of only a small fraction of the acreage that could be profitably baited. Improvement in use directions for the product, making it available to the grower through more direct channels, and training individuals to lead effective baiting programs are the solutions suggested.