SUDAN

The red-billed weaver, or quelea (Quelea quelea), is found in some 25
African countries and is a serious pest of cereal grain crops such as
sorghum, wheat, millet, and rice. In the Sudan, quelea occupy some
90 percent of the country's grain production areas. DWRC investiga-
tions during late 1977 (see 1977 report) gave credence to the widely
held belief that quelea are the most destructive birds in the world.
In addition to quelea, there are other bird and rodent damage problems
in Sudan and other nations of Africa that are of significant economic
importance.

The agreement which established this vertebrate pest research program
in Sudan is scheduled to extend through 1981, with emphasis on quelea
depredation research. Future plans envision an extension of the pro-
gram beyond 1981, an additional biologist, and program expansion to
include applied research into other vertebrate pest problems, espe-
cially rodents.

The basic objectives of this project are to: (1) increase the avail-
able human food supply by reducing damage to field crops caused by
noxious birds and rodents; (2) develop integrated control programs
within Sudan in areas suffering losses from grain-eating birds and
rodents; (3) appraise the nature and magnitude of quelea bird and
rodent losses in Sudan; (4) develop indigenous capabilities to evalu-
ate and deal with vertebrate pest problems; (5) institutionalize
in-country research and control programs; and (6) coordinate activ-
ities with other international organizations to maximize results.

Many African countries affected by quelea have operational control
teams actively combating crop depredation problems by indirect means
(i.e., quelea population suppression). Considerable progress has
been made by these teams in better understanding some aspects of the
basic biology of quelea in relation to roost and nest site control.
However, large-scale campaigns to reduce the numbers of quelea have
provided only temporary or local relief from bird depredations. This
strategy, while often killing millions of birds each year, is costly
and potentially hazardous.

The DWRC will continue its policy of monitoring and evaluating all
efforts at control and methods development, including indirect con-
trol. Basically, our work on the quelea problem in Sudan will be
confined to direct crop protection research. Emphasis will be given
to development of economical and appropriate control methods which are
suited to use on small or traditional farms. Research spinoff bene-
fits for large or "modern" farm schemes, as have occurred after our
project work in the United States, Latin America, and the Philippines,
can be anticipated.