Lack of birds leaves bumper crop of berries to be picked in Alberta’s foothills this year

In Alberta’s foothills in 2025, berry growers are experiencing a bumper crop of berries due to a notable reduction in local bird populations that normally consume a significant share of the fruit. Historically, birds such as robins, blackbirds, and starlings can account for 30–36% loss of a berry crop, as they eat, peck at, or knock off substantial quantities of fruit, sometimes making them unsellable^[1][2]. This year, many berry fields have been left unusually full, with more berries available for picking by humans.

Recent bird count and population trend reports indicate continued declines in several bird species in Alberta, especially among aerial insectivores and some grassland and migratory birds^[3][4]. These declines are attributed to factors like habitat loss, migration challenges, fewer available insects due to dry conditions, and high summer temperatures affecting nest success. While waterfowl and some urban birds have grown in numbers, many fruit-eating and insectivorous species—major berry consumers—are down from historical averages.

As a result:

• Berry farms near Calgary and throughout the foothills report unprecedented yields and an extended picking season for saskatoons, raspberries, and haskap berries, with more fruit left on the bushes and available for U-pick customers compared to typical years^[5][6].
• The decrease in bird predation is directly linked with greater quantities of high-quality berries accessible for both commercial and amateur pickers, and farms are suggesting customers check availability frequently due to the abundance and brisk picking.

This situation is a mixed blessing: while it means more berries for picking and sales, it also hints at ecological concerns, as bird declines can impact the long-term health of ecosystems, including the pollination, dispersal, and pest-control services that birds provide. In the short term, however, the lack of birds is translating into a windfall for berry lovers in Alberta’s foothills this summer^[3][1][2].

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• https://onvegetables.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/managing-bird-damage-in-crops-factsheet-final.pdf  
• https://birdgard.com/crops-protected/  
• https://naturealberta.ca/state-of-albertas-birds/  
• https://albertaviews.ca/the-wings-of-change/ 
• https://www.savvymom.ca/article/u-pick-berry-farms-near-calgary/ 
• https://www.instagram.com/p/C8r4CYEJcvB/?hl=en