Birds commonly cause damage to newly planted seeds, germinating seeds, or emerging seedlings of crops in many
agronomic and horticultural crops in Arizona. Birds such as horned larks, sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, and mourning
doves feed on newly seeded vegetable crops causing major crop damage resulting in significant economic loss by
producers. Newly planted vegetable crops are often the only source of food in the desert and birds migrate to fields to
nibble, chew, or destroy the emerging seedlings of lettuces, cole crops, onions, and melons. In Arizona, a variety of
vegetables are grown throughout the year with planting occurring from the early fall (July to September for fall melons
and early leafy vegetables) through the winter (October to December for early spring vegetables) and into early spring
(February to March for late spring vegetables and spring melons). Hybrid vegetable crop seeds are often planted to a
stand and when bird damage occurs, quality and yield of the harvestable crop are significantly reduced.