Evaluation of Flight ControlR to reduce blackbird damage to newly planted rice in Louisiana

Blackbirds cause extensive damage to newly planted and ripening rice. To date there is not a registered bird repellent for reducing this damage. We evaluated Flight ControlR, a 50% anthraquinone product, as a potential repellent to blackbirds in cage and field tests in Louisiana. In one- and no-choice cage tests, brown-headed cowbird and red-winged blackbird consumption of 2% Flight ControlR treated rice seed was significantly reduced. In a subsequent field test, 2% Flight ControlR was effective in reducing blackbird damage (P=0.001) to newly planted rice seed. Chemical residues at 7 days post-planting averaged 0.66% anthraquinone. Further field testing is warranted.