Methyl anthranilate is a benzoate ester that is the methyl ester of anthranilic acid. It has a role as a metabolite and a flavouring agent.
In a study from Michigan USA, Cummings et al. (1995) tested methyl anthranilate (ReJeX-iI® AG-36) for its potential to reduce bird damage to blueberries over a 14-day period. The relative risk of damage at the start of the study was similar between treatment and control sites (RR = 1.02). Between day 3 – 10 of the trial, the relative risk of bird damage was lower in the treatment fields (RR range = 0.51 – 0.65) while at day 14 the effect appeared to have been lost, and the relative risk of berry damage was greater in the treatment than in the control field (RR = 2.83).
In New Jersey, USA, Mason and Clark (1995) evaluated encapsulated methyl anthranilate (Rejex-It AG36) for reducing snow goose (Chen caerulescens) density on winter wheat and Kentucky bluegrass and observed goose density was 88 % lower after 4 days and 41 % lower after 24 days. In a follow up study (Mason and Clark 1996) observed that the effect lasted longer when the substance was combined with a visual cue (0.9 kg of TiO3). When winter wheat and Kentucky bluegrass was treated with methyl anthranilate (3.4 kg/ai/ha), goose density was 40 % lower in treatment fields in the first week, but no difference (0 %) in density was observed after 2 and 3 weeks. When methyl anthranilate (3.4 kg/ai/ha) was combined with 0.9 kg of TiO3, goose density was 59 % lower in the first week, 44 % lower in the second week, and 59 % lower in the third week compared to the control. In a South Dakotan study, Dieter et al. (2014) evaluated three different methyl anthranilate products: Rejex-It® (Natural Forces LLC,Davidson, N.C.), Bird Shield® (Bird Shield Repellent Corporation, Pullman, Wash.), and Avian Control® (Avian Enterprises Inc., Sylvan Lake, Mich.) for their effect in reducing Canada goose (Canada goose) damage to soybean. Neither of the products led to increasing yields (RR = 1.0, yield = 0 bushels/ha).
In Ireland, Kennedy and Connery (2008) evaluated the effectiveness of different concentrations and quantities of methyl anthranilate to reduce rooks (Corvus frugilegus L) damage on wheat plant density. The largest difference in plant density occurred at 50 % methyl anthranilate at 4 l/t (+30 % in treatment) and 8 l/t (+33 % in treatment). Intermediate difference in plant density occurred at 12.5 % methyl anthranilate at 2 l/t (+24 % in treatment) and 25 % methyl anthranilate at 2 l/t (+27 % in treatment), and the lowest difference in plant density at 50 % methyl anthranilate at 2 l/t (+18 % in year 1, +16% in year 2 for treatment plots). Malhi and Kaur (1996) evaluated methyl anthranilate (98% E.C. @ 5,10 ml/litre, 85 water 15 Cacein as additive) for its potential to reduce house crow (Corvus splendens) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) damage on wheat seed damage. During a 15-days trial, the risk of damage was larger in the treated pots than in the control (RR = 1.18).
