During their summer moult, flightless birds may create more problems by
trampling plants and leaving droppings.

Whatever the problem with waterfowl, immediate action is crucial to
successful control.

Farmers are encouraged to use early-ripening and damage-resistant plant
varieties. Another strategy, delaying fall plowing, allows waterfowl to
feed in harvested fields.

A combination of several frightening techniques may produce the best
results: scarecrows, noisemakers, flags, balloons, wind chimes, and dogs.

Scarecrows should be of simple construction and move in the wind. Put
one in every five acres and move them every two to five days.

Old cars, farm machinery, pinwheels, streamers, wind chimes, fluorescent traffic
cones and aluminum pie plates, if they move in the wind and make noise
can also be effective waterfowl scares.

Noisemakers. Contact your state animal damage control expert for advice
on using explosives as noisemakers.

Flags may be the most effective and least expensive control tool. Make
two by three-foot black plastic flags on four-foot posts. Put one flag
per acre in fields where waterfowl have been feeding, one per five acres
in fields with no damage.

Balloons, if properly maintained and frequently moved, can be effective
waterfowl scares. Fill a two-foot diameter balloon with helium and
anchor it with a 50 to 75 pound monofilament line.

Dogs. A free ranging dog, trained to chase birds as soon as they land,
will discourage waterfowl.