Although bird damage to fruit crops is well documented, bird damage to flower and leaf buds is relatively understudied. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, bird damage to kiwifruit ( and ) buds has been reported to be widespread. However, the responsible bird species and rates of damage have not been investigated, nor is it known if orchard management such as the presence of shelterbelts, and management of swards (grass) between vines or characteristics of the surrounding landscape affect patterns of bud damage. We aimed to identify the bird species responsible for damage to kiwifruit buds, the extent of damage across orchards, and factors correlated with bud damage. A combination of bird surveys, trail cameras, and bud damage surveys were employed across 18 kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa/New Zealand. House sparrows (), chaffinches (), and silvereyes () were identified as the most frequent species damaging buds. On average, 10% of buds were damaged, but rates of damage varied widely across orchards. Increasing availability of sward seeds was associated with increasing bird abundance but decreasing bud damage levels, potentially because seeds from sward vegetation offer an alternative food source. Shelterbelt volume, block management type (conventional vs organic), and the proportion of vegetation in the surrounding landscape also influenced bird abundance and damage. Understanding which management and environmental factors influence bird abundance and damage may benefit bird management in orchards, such as leaving swards unmown to increase sward seed availability and to reduce bird damage levels to kiwifruit buds.

中文翻译：

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影响猕猴桃园芽损伤率的果园管理因素


尽管鸟类对水果作物的损害已有充分记录，但鸟类对花和叶芽的损害的研究相对较少。据报道，在新西兰新西兰，鸟类对奇异果（和）芽的损害十分普遍。然而，尚未调查造成损害的鸟类种类和损害率，也不知道果园管理（例如防护林带的存在、葡萄藤之间的草地（草）管理或周围景观的特征）是否会影响芽损害的模式。我们的目的是确定对猕猴桃芽造成损害的鸟类物种、整个果园的损害程度以及与芽损害相关的因素。新西兰丰盛湾的 18 个奇异果园采用了鸟类调查、追踪相机和芽损伤调查相结合的方法。麻雀 ()、苍头燕雀 () 和银眼雀 () 被确定为最常见的破坏芽的物种。平均有 10% 的花蕾受损，但不同果园的受损率差异很大。草地种子供应量的增加与鸟类数量的增加有关，但芽损伤程度的降低与此相关，这可能是因为来自草地植被的种子提供了替代食物来源。防护林体积、区块管理类型（传统与有机）以及周围景观中植被的比例也会影响鸟类的丰度和损害。了解哪些管理和环境因素影响鸟类丰度和损害可能有利于果园的鸟类管理，例如不割草地以增加草地种子的可用性并减少鸟类对猕猴桃芽的损害程度。