Levels of bird damage to sorghum in the Awash Basin of Ethiopia and the effects of the control of quelea nesting colonies (1976-1979)

Quantitative assessments of bird damage to lowland sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) were made annually from 1976 through 1979 in the major growing areas associated with the Awash River Basin. Results indicated that the red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) can be an important limiting factor in the overall production of this cereal, and that damage can be locally severe. Lethal control of quelea breeding colonies found along the Awash River and at Lake Zwai was undertaken in September/October of both 1978 and 1979. Subsequent assessments showed substantially less bird damage in both years and overall losses were minimal