Birds and PesticidesBirds and Pesticides

Luke Choate31193

Peregrine Falcon

Pesticides have been wildly used and Pesticides have been wildly used and accepted since World War IIaccepted since World War II

Many of the pesticides harm Many of the pesticides harm unintentional victims, one of these unintentional victims, one of these victims is the bird population victims is the bird population

Problems:Problems: Pesticides don’t always kill their victim, Pesticides don’t always kill their victim,

sometimes they inhibit the breeding of the sometimes they inhibit the breeding of the species it comes in contact withspecies it comes in contact with

Many pesticides, kill birds directly such as DDT, Many pesticides, kill birds directly such as DDT, which poisons the nervous systemwhich poisons the nervous system

A recent study has shown an increase in the A recent study has shown an increase in the amount of unhatched eggs among common amount of unhatched eggs among common cavity-nesting birdscavity-nesting birds

Although DDT is banned in the U.S. there are still Although DDT is banned in the U.S. there are still many toxic chemicals used which cannot be many toxic chemicals used which cannot be studied because the producers are legally studied because the producers are legally protecting their “Trade Secret” by not allowing protecting their “Trade Secret” by not allowing their product to be studiedtheir product to be studied

Just a few animal species affected Just a few animal species affected by Pesticidesby Pesticides

Peregrine FalconPeregrine Falcon OspreysOspreys Swainson’s HawkSwainson’s Hawk Lesser long-nosed batLesser long-nosed bat Pacific pocket mousePacific pocket mouse San Bernardino kangaroo ratSan Bernardino kangaroo rat Buena Vista Lake shrewBuena Vista Lake shrew California red-legged frogCalifornia red-legged frog California tiger salamanderCalifornia tiger salamander ChiricahuaChiricahua leopard frog leopard frog Mountain yellow-legged frogMountain yellow-legged frog Southwestern arroyo toadSouthwestern arroyo toad Yosemite toadYosemite toad Alameda Alameda whipsnakewhipsnake Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizardCoachella Valley fringe-toed lizard Desert tortoiseDesert tortoise New Mexico ridge-nosed rattlesnakeNew Mexico ridge-nosed rattlesnake Western burrowing owlWestern burrowing owl Cactus ferruginous pygmy owlCactus ferruginous pygmy owl Mexican spotted owlMexican spotted owl Southwestern willow flycatcherSouthwestern willow flycatcher Delta smelt Delta smelt Southern California steelheadSouthern California steelhead Gila troutGila trout Desert pupfishDesert pupfish Loach minnowLoach minnow SpikedaceSpikedace Green sturgeonGreen sturgeon Unarmored three spine sticklebackUnarmored three spine stickleback Hine’sHine’s emerald dragonfly emerald dragonfly Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly Riverside fairy shrimp Riverside fairy shrimp Holmgren milk-vetch Holmgren milk-vetch Shivwits milk-vetchShivwits milk-vetch

Sorry if it’s hard to read, but it isn’t my fault. Blame the pesticides.

SolutionsSolutions There are many things you can do to avoid the There are many things you can do to avoid the

use of pesticides:use of pesticides:• Use Bio-pesticides which are derived from natural Use Bio-pesticides which are derived from natural

materials instead of being made in a labmaterials instead of being made in a lab• Keep your lawn healthy, it’s a natural way to reduce Keep your lawn healthy, it’s a natural way to reduce

pestspests• Use plants native to your area in your gardenUse plants native to your area in your garden• Know which insects are the “Pests” in your yard, some Know which insects are the “Pests” in your yard, some

are actually beneficialare actually beneficial• Attract more birds to your yard with bird baths and nest Attract more birds to your yard with bird baths and nest

boxes, they’re a pest killer too!boxes, they’re a pest killer too!• Try to buy more organic food and support those farmers Try to buy more organic food and support those farmers

in the fight against pesticidesin the fight against pesticides• Prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your backyard, Prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your backyard,

they’re one of the major reasons for the use of they’re one of the major reasons for the use of pesticidespesticides

Much of my information was gathered from:Much of my information was gathered from:

• http://www.birds.cornell.edu/publications/birdscope/Su mmer2001/pesticides.html

• http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/Migr atoryBirds/Fact_Sheets/default.cfm?fxsht=8