Native birds bring more benefits than damage to crops, orchards and grazing land, research finds

Encouraging bird populations on farmland could increase yield by more than 10 per cent, according to an Albury researcher.

While it has traditionally been thought birds damage and eat crops, a new study by Charles Sturt University's Rebecca Peisley shows the benefits outweigh the costs.

"A lot of farmers are really keen to find ways to reduce bird damage on their crops, but I was really interested in the other side of things — that birds can provide for farmers," Dr Peisley said.

"And I found birds were overwhelmingly positive in the three systems I looked at."

Read more...http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-02-05/native-birds-create-bigger-yield-for-farmers-research-finds/9396974