Vol. 9, Issue 2, Part G (2025)

The present study was conducted with two objectives; first was to assess the feeding preferences of bird species and second was to evaluate depredatory bird management techniques at its sowing-seedling and ripening stage in spring maize crop (PMH 10). Four treatments namely netting (T₁), combined scare balloons and paper bag wrapping (T₂), reflective ribbons (T₃), combined bioacoustics and leaf wrapping (T₄) were carried out. One control plot (C) without any management method was selected at maize experimental fields in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) campus, Ludhiana. No management method was used in control plot. Maximum numbers of insectivorous bird species 18, 20, 21, 24 and 22 were found in treatment plots T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄ and one C plot respectively at knee height stage among four developmental stages of maize crop. Major depredatory bird species, House Crow (Corvus splendens) and Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) were observed at sowing-seedling stage and ripening stage respectively in the selected maize crop fields. House Crow has relative abundance values to be 8.99%, 12.65%, 10.41% and 13.61% at sowing-seedling stage in T₂, T₃, T₄ and C plot respectively. Rose-ringed Parakeet has relative abundance values to be 13.45%, 12.62%, 22.23% and 34.12% in T₂, T₃, T₄ and one C plot respectively at ripening stage. Depredatory bird scaring methods were effective in reducing the feeding and abundance of depredatory bird species in treatment plots as compared to control plot, as percent seedlings and cobs damage was highest in Control plot and very least in treatment plots. From economic point of view, two most effective methods found were reflective ribbons and combined scare balloons and tussel bag wrapping.