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Am. J. Enol. Vitic. 55:3:292-294 (2004)
Copyright © 2004 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.
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Response of Blackbirds (Turdus merula) and Silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) to Geraniol and 2-Methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine

Valerie P. Saxton 1, Glen L. Creasy 1, Adrian M. Paterson 1, and Michael C.T. Trought 2

1 Soil, Plant and Ecological Sciences Division, P.O. Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
2 Marlborough Wine Research Centre, P.O. Box 845, Blenheim, New Zealand

Email: saxtonv{at}lincoln.ac.nz

Grape aromas may be a cue to foraging birds in vineyards, and two typical grape aromas were offered in a controlled experiment to free-ranging blackbirds (Turdus merula) and silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis). Bird visits to a bird table with small nectar pots surrounded by a wick soaked in geraniol, a wick soaked in 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine (IBMP), and a wick soaked in an aromaless control were recorded and analyzed. Blackbirds stayed longer and drank more from the geraniol nectar than from the IBMP nectar and showed the least interest in the control. Silvereyes visited IBMP most but drank more and stayed longer at the control. It appears from these results that aroma may be a cue to some bird species that attack grapes.

Note:
Acknowledgments: Aroma extracts generously donated by Bedoukian Research Inc., Danbury, Connecticut. The assistance of Dr Rob Sherlock is gratefully acknowledged.

Key words: 2-methoxy-3-isobutylpyrazine, geraniol, bird damage, grapes






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Copyright © 2004 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.