Avian Species

Abstract

The use of persistent organochlorine insecticides has had serious consequences on populations of birds of prey and fish‐eating bird species. The question now is whether current pesticides have the same potential to reduce bird populations. In order to answer this, however, the question must be defined carefully, which is one of the most difficult tasks facing any attempt to measure the impact of pesticides on birds because so many variables are involved. Overall, however, this article argues that in cases of acute poisonings in birds of prey, a few pesticides are responsible for most of the problems.

A Synthesis of Human-related Avian Mortality in Canada

“…With several other products, birds are more likely to ingest a lethal dose but die later away from the field area, or ingest a dose which might have been sub-lethal had the bird not been subject to delayed mortality as a result of cold, food stress or predation (reviewed in Mineau 2003). Even with this rapid mode of action, some birds have been shown to leave the field area and die in surrounding fields and field margins.…”

“…Pesticides have been documented to impact birds in many different ways (Mineau 2003). The continued use of acutely toxic products (primarily insecticides) has been shown to kill birds regularly and predictably even when used according to label directions (Mineau 2004).…”

El uso de insecticidas en cultivos agrícolas y su riesgo potencial para las aves en la Región Pampeana

“…El estudio de incidentes de mortandad de vida silvestre por insecticidas a campo debería incluir el hallazgo y la denuncia precoz del hecho, debería estar involucrada una especie gregaria, conspicua o emblemática y se debería visitar el área de ocurrencia durante un período de tiempo breve al inicio del envenenamiento, a fin de reducir el efecto de la desaparición de carcasas. La mayor parte de los casos de mortandad de aves ocurre silenciosamente y sin que nadie pueda documentarlo, con lo cual no es difícil imaginar que los eventos documentados son solo una mínima expresión del problema (Mineau 2003). Las denuncias son promovidas por personas sorprendidas ante un hecho de magnitud, que es identificado y dimensionado plenamente si alguna de las especies involucradas es abundante y de hábitos gregarios.…”

Carbofuran use and abuse in Kenya: residues in soils, plants, water courses and the African white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) found dead

“…Carbofuran has a relatively moderate mammalian toxicity (oral LD 50 8-11 mg/kg in rats), but is very toxic to invertebrates and birds with quite low avian Furadan LD 50 values ranging from 0.238 mg/kg, in whistling ducks, to 5.62 mk/kg, in European starling, Stumus vulgaris (Hodgson et al 1991;Hopkins and Scholz 2006;Mineau 1993;Mineau et al 1999;Mineau 2001). Field studies with silica-based carbofuran granules of Furadan 3, 5, 10 and 15G, as well as CR-10, have shown high mortalities in birds (Mineau and Collins 1988;Mineau et al 1999;Mineau 2003). The planting machinery has been found to leave a substantial number of granules exposed on the surface of the soil after application.…”

“…This has been found mainly in row crops, such as corn, and field crops, such as oilseeds (Mineau 2003). Several cases of poisoning through food chain transfer, secondary exposure and illegal poisoning with laced baits have been reported (Allen et al 1996;Crocker 2005;Elliot et al 1996;Mineau 2003;Vyas et al 2003;Vyas et al 2005). Acute uptake of carbofuran, just like other carbamates, through accidental exposure can result in acute toxicities and fatalities even in humans (Hayes 1982;Ecobichon 1993).…”