Julie Anne Jedlicka

My dissertation research program quantifies the avian conservation potential of northern California vineyards and simultaneously investigates whether these bird populations may be offering growers environmental services in the form of insect pest control. During the past decade, winegrape growers in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties have placed songbird nestboxes in their vineyards to help conserve native bird species. However, while substituting nestboxes for natural oak cavities satisfies the need for suitable nesting locations for some songbird species, it is unknown whether providing vineyard nestboxes can significantly increase population densities of insectivorous birds and provide the food resources necessary to maintain reproductive populations. Consequently, my research asks whether placing songbird nestboxes in vineyards increases the abundance of cavity-nesting birds, benefiting avian conservation.

If avian populations are increasing from nestbox programs they are likely foraging within vineyard landscapes. My research quantifies the extent to which these insectivorous birds consume insect pests within vineyards, potentially offering growers environmental services in the form of pest control. Stomach-content analyses, mostly from the early 1900s, indicate that birds may consume key vineyard pest species. To determine if foraging birds are effective biological control agents, I quantify arthropod consumption by avian species, measure species-specific foraging strategies of insectivorous birds, and compare key pest levels on winegrape vines in predator enhancement and exclusion treatments.

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