CAN ATTRACTION OF PREDATORY BIRDS REDUCE FOOD SAFETY RISKS POSED BY PEST BIRDS IN ORCHARDS?

Ipropose several complementaryobjectives to assess the risk birds pose to food safety in a sweet cherry system and to evaluate ifpromotion of kestrels may be one ecofriendly solution: Obj. 1: Conduct fecal contaminationsurveys to assess rates of fecal deposition on cherries inpaired kestrel/no-kestrel orchards;Obj. 2: Determine which species are responsible for defecating on trees; and Obj. 3: Estimateprevalence of Campylobacter spp. in bird feces on cherry trees. The proposed work issignificant because promoting raptors cansimultaneously reduce fruit damage and consumptionby pest birds (Plant Health and Production and Plant Products), potentially improvefoodsafety (Food safety, nutrition, and health), and support a rapidly declining species (Bioenergy,Natural Resources, andEnvironment).