Liquid smoke fumes keep pesky sparrows out of sanctuaries

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-05-23 03:00

New Zealand

What does this mean?

Jump to: MultimediaAttachmentsExpert Reaction

Half-a-million sparrows and starlings are roosting in the Rotopiko wetland complex in Waikato, and researchers have come across an unusual way to keep them out. The non-native birds can harm the nutrients and plants of the wetland, so researchers used a type of liquid smoke to see if it reduced their numbers. They found bird poo in the treated areas reduced by 10-15%, suggesting it's an additional option to manage bird pests without having to cull them.