Percent preference response (mean SD)
pellets formulated at various moisture
percent as the standard for comparison.


of quelea for
levels with 16


 Pellet moisture level
 14% 10% 8%
Bird No. X SD Bird No. SD Bird No. X SD

 250 51.014.4 284 47.1 8.8 290 45.711.3

 248 54.414.9 258 49.5 8.4 238 31.819.9

 223 55.0 3.9 257 56.6 5.8 207 37.6 4.3

 215 51.010.4 252 60.410.9 221 19.711.9

 259 50.410.7 208 53.8 7.3 278 55.116.0

 226 56.016.4 230 44.412.4 291 37.012.9

Group
 means 53.017.7 52.013.4 38.019.1


Future preference tests with quelea will include evaluations of color
and flavor as potential factors affecting bait acceptance. Baits
developed from this research could provide an improved method of
applying toxicants for control of quelea depredations in agricultural
crops.

Design modification trials of sublethal electric barriers

Engineering support was provided at the Los Ba'hos field station in the
Philippines for development of high-voltage electric barriers to pro-
tect ricefields from rodent damage. Fourteen electrode configurations
were evaluated in an effort to optimize the barrier design. A config-
uration that uses only three electrode wires was selected as best for
a planned full-scale field evaluation in a ricefield during 1979. Two
types of high-energy fence chargers, imported from New Zealand, were
used to drive these electric barriers. In addition, a 200-W wind-
powered electric generator was taken to Los Banos for testing as a
possible alternative energy source. Custom-designed electronic activ-
ity counters were developed to measure the number of rat encounters
with the barriers. One type of counter monitors rat activity along a


Table 13.