ECONOMIC IMPACT AND CONTROL OF WADING BIRDS AT ARKANSAS MINNOW PONDS

Abstract

Esophageal/stomach contents of 172 little blue herons (Egretta caerulea), great egrets (Casmerodius albus), snowy egrets (Egretta thula), and great blue herons (Ardea herodias) were analyzed to estimate their consumption of golden shiners. Mean and maximum number of golden shiners consumed/bird, as well as the mean total length of golden shiners consumed by each wading bird species was determined. Loss estimates varied by wading bird species and ranged from $0.10 - $1.12/bird/feeding. Loss estimates reflect the severity of problems with wading birds on minnow ponds and the need to reduce losses by use of effective control methods.