Watkins_1995_Pest.Sci_44_335

The dose-response curve was quantified for the avian repellency of cinnamamide, a derivative of the plant secondary compound cinnamic acid, using a three-day, short-term no-choice test. This test was designed to resemble more closely the availability of alternative food in the birds' natural environment than in previous no-choice studies. Cinnamamide reduced food consumption by feral pigeons (Columba livia Gmelin) at concentrations as low as 6.17 umole g-1 food (0.09% w/w) and this reduction increased with concentration. An R50 index, the concentration at which food consumption was reduced by 50% was interpolated from the dose-response curve as 18.4 (+/-0.38) umole g-1 food 10.26% w/w). This index can now be matched with those of related compounds in future structure-activity studies. The birds' response to cinnamamide changed over the three-day trial with respect to concentration. Repellency declined at concentrations < R50 and increased at concentrations > R50. This suggests that pigeons become habituated to cinnamamide at low concentrations but at high concentrations they may develop a conditioned aversion. This study provides quantitative confirmation of previous laboratory and field demonstrations of cinnamamide's effectiveness as a non-lethal chemical repellent suitable for reducing avian pest damage.