Mississippi Field Station

To address these bird problems the National Wildlife Research Center of the USDA's Animal Damage Control Program, under a Congressional directive, established a research station at Mississippi State University in 1988.

Biologists at the NWRC Mississippi field station conduct studies with both captive and free-ranging birds to determine the extent of fish-eating bird damage; the local and regional population status of fish-eating birds; and effective control methods.

The goal of Mississippi field station research is not centered on the development of a single method as a panacea for all damage problems, because none is likely to be cost-effective in all situations. Instead, the continuing emphasis is on developing a number of alternative strategies that can be integrated into a comprehensive management plan for cost-effective reductions in fish-eating bird damage to aquaculture.

Further information on the research conducted at the Starkville, MS Field Station can be found on the Defining Economic Impacts and Developing Strategies for Reducing Avian Predation in Aquaculture Systems Research Project page.