Winegrowers Are Recruiting Birds to Their Vineyards
Since 1970, bird populations in North America alone have declined by almost 3 billion, according to a study conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. One of the culprits of this die-off, scientists say, is pesticide. About 1 billion pounds of pesticide is sprayed in the United States each year. But many grape growers are finding that by bringing in birds they can essentially get free labor — and the hands-off, chemical-free approach benefits everyone. (Wine Industry Advisor)