Bird Damage. Bird damage was most common in ND and SD with 46% of ND and 40% of SD respondents reporting more than 5% bird damage. Bird damage of 5-10% was reported by 24% of KS, 20% of MN, 26% of ND and 25% of SD respondents. Bird damage of 10-25% was reported by 4% of KS, 9% of MN, 15% of ND and 11% of SD respondents. Bird damage of 25-100% was reported by 4% of KS, 6% of ND and 4% of SD respondents (Table 66). A greater percentage of respondents in all four states reported bird damage in the higher loss categories in 1997 than in 1994 (4).

Blackbirds were the species most frequently causing damage, as reported by 78% of KS, 87% of MN, 96% of ND and 91% of SD respondents. Sparrows were the second most frequently reported bird species, cited by 15% of KS, 6% of MN, 4% of ND and 6% of SD respondents (Table 67). These data are similar to those for 1994 (4).

ND respondents spent the most on bird control: $13,129 for shotgun shells, $5,115 for exploders, $4,985 for gasoline, $5,150 for cattail control and 3,198 hours for bird control (Table 68). If hourly costs are calculated at $5.75/hr, the cost in time represents $18,389, and total costs were $46,768 for all 261 ND respondents. However, not all respondents answered this question, so costs per respondent answering the question are shown in Table 69. Each respondent who answered the question spent $515 for cattail control, $171 for exploders, $134 for shells, $87 for gasoline and 37 hours ($213).

SD respondents made the next largest expenditure on bird control: $6,560 for exploders, $3,322 for shotgun shells, $1,435 for gasoline and 2,787 hours for bird control (Table 68). Calculating $5.75/hr for bird control, the hourly cost was $16,025 and total costs for all 163 SD respondents were $27,342. Costs for each SD respondent who answered the question were $547 for exploders, $104 for shotgun shells, $110 for gasoline and 111 hours ($638), as shown in Table 69.

MN respondents reported expenditures of $970 for shotgun shells, $20 for gasoline, $10 for exploders and 5 hours for bird control (Table 68). Total costs for all 83 MN respondents, including $29 for hours spent, were $1,029. Costs per respondent who answered the question were $162 for shotgun shells, $20 for gasonline, $10 for exploders and 17 hours ($98), as shown in Table 69.

KS respondents reported expenditures of $95 for shotgun shells and 3 hours for bird control (Table 68). Total costs for all 103 KS respondents, including $17 for hours spent, were $112. Costs per respondent who answered the question were $48 for shotgun shells and 3 hours ($17), as shown in Table 69.

Bird control costs per respondent answering the question were slightly higher in ND and SD in 1997 than in 1994. They were lower in MN in 1997 than in 1994, and about the same both years in KS (4).