04-12-2000 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The bird - repellent properties of MA were first noted in the 1960s, however, little additional research with this chemical was conducted until the late 1980s. MA is an ester which appears to act primarily through nasal trigeminal irritation (Mason et al. 1989). One- difficulty .of using-MA is _that in its ,pure form —it rapidly photodegrades-forming anthranilic- -acid,- which - -can- severely. - burn „plant__tissues. Recently, MA has been formulated in a time - release starch matrix (14.4% a.i., Vogt 1992), providing a repellent suitable for spraying on turf and other vegetation. Cummings et. al. (1991) used MA and its corollary, dimethyl anthranilate, in a trial which indicated that Canada goose numbers and fecal deposits on treated areas were less than those for control plots, but few significant differences were observed.. In another study, MA and DMA were tested with and without methiocarb on captive Canada geese and mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Concentrations of 2% MA (g /g) and DMA significantly reduced shelled corn consumption by Canada geese and ducks (Cummings et al. 1992). Experiments involving the direct application of MA to water surfaces are also noteworthy. Avery et al. (1992) determined that coot (Fulica americana) use of MA- treated water ceased entirely within two days. Similar tests with mallards and gulls (Larus de/awarensis) showed significant declines in bird numbers using MA- treated pools (Dolbeer et al. 1992). Experiments in which MA was applied directly to water surfaces are important because this compound appears to be aversive at much lower concentrations (0.10 - 0.50 %) when in liquid suspension. STUDY AREA AND METHODS This study was conducted in King's Park, Rockland County, New York (41° 08' N, 74° 02' W). King's Park is used daily for community recreational activities, and is situated in a residential area. The study _ site was approximately 50 by 120 m, surrounded by a tree line, basketball court, and was bordered on one side by a shallow pond (Fig. 1). The turf consisted primarily of Kentucky bluegrass ( >90% Poa pratensis), with scattered herbaceous weeds and bare ground (A. Turner, pers. commun.). The test field was partitioned into four 20 m by 30 m plots, which were randomly designated as treatments or controls (2 each). Four randomly - stratified transects were established in each plot within 7.5 -m blocks, depending - -on distance from the pond. Goose and fecal counts were conducted from 19 May through 24 June (Julian dates: 139 -175), during pre- treatment, treatment, and post- treatment phases. The number of geese using each plot were made at ten- Page 77