Falconry considered for pest birds 

The ancient art of Falconry may be about to take on a new role in New Zealand agriculture.

Farmers are investigating whether the world's fastest bird can be used to deter other birds from attacking crops, and causing millions of dollars worth of damage each year.

"If you add that up across New Zealand, that's close to 20 or 30 million a year at the farm gate. So it's very significant," says Foundation for Arable Research spokesman Nick Pyke.

The problem is the damage to crops by pest birds like Sparrows and Green Finch. The Falcon would then be used to hunt down these birds on the plain.

A trial is currently underway in vineyards in Marlborough.

"They (falcons) just make a vineyard their home territory and they'll hunt all day," says Falcon Biologist Dr Nick Fox.

However, there is no miracle answer for crop protection. The use of falcons is just another tool in the whole list methods that may help farmers manage birds.

And, the tool may take some time to implement. Researchers say it could take years to get a wild Falcon population re-established.

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