M. Pescador et Sj. Peris, EFFECTS OF GREAT BUSTARDS (OTIS-TARDA) ON CULTIVATED AREAS IN WEST-CENTRAL SPAIN, Journal of Agricultural Science, 130, 1998, pp. 9-15
Great bustard (Otis tarda) populations in Spain are located mostly in
cultivated areas during winter. The birds concentrate in large flocks
and feed on cultivated plants. This paper reports two types of bustard
-caused damage which occur in cereal, lucerne and vetch crops in west-
central Spain, as a result of grazing and other bird activities such a
s display. Field work was carried out between 1994 and 1995. Damage to
cereal crops was caused during germination and early seedling growth
or to young plants, although plants were able to recover from this by
regrowth and the overall yield was not reduced. Vetch crops were damag
ed in localized areas, but these recovered and were useful for forage
enrichment or as grain. However, the damage to lucerne plots, although
local, was extensive, resulting in yield losses of 23-31% with respec
t to the total production.