Despite the ban on notorious insecticides
such as DDT and the passage of laws to
regulate pesticide production and use,
birds still suffer from pesticide exposure
in this country. Each year, approximately
672 million birds are directly exposed to
pesticides on farmlands in the United
States, and of these, about 10 percent, or
67 million birds, are estimated to die
immediately as a result. This figure does
not include birds that perish after a
period of illness, that die after feeding on
poisoned insects, rodents, or other prey,
or losses due to failed reproduction (eggs
left unhatched or nestlings left to starve).
The impact on birds from pesticide use in
areas other than farmlands is unknown.
Pesticides may be linked to long-term
declines in raptors (birds of prey) and
other bird species populations. Pesticide-related
mortality of raptors has been
reported throughout the United States,
including that of red-tailed hawks,
screech-owls, great horned owls, sharp-shinned
hawks, snowy owls, Cooper’s
hawks, Mississippi kites, and Swainson’s
hawks. Several species of songbirds have
also experienced die-offs. The number
of birds lost in a poisoning event can only
be estimated; biologists believe that for
each bird carcass found and reported,
approximately 100 others are never
found.
Pesticide exposure can be an even more
serious problem in countries where
migratory birds spend their winters.
Regulations on the types and quantities
of pesticides used in Latin American
nations are often less strict than those set
in the United States by the
Environmental Protection Agency. In
1995 and 1996, 20,000 Swainson’s hawks,
an estimated 5 to 10 percent of the world
population, were killed from pesticide
poisoning in the agricultural pampas
region of Argentina.
Since World War II, the manufacture
and use of pesticides in the United States
has increased ten-fold. Based on 1997
data, approximately 4.5 billion pounds of
chemicals are used as active ingredients
in pesticides each year in the United
States.
An additional 338 million pounds of
pesticides were exported from the United
States in 1995 and 1996 alone. Pesticide
exports include many chemicals that have
been banned, or severely restricted, in
the United States, including DDT. Nearly
a third of the total exports go to Latin
American nations.
Many legal pesticides have been shown
to harm birds. About 40 pesticides,
most of which can be used in the United
States, are known to kill birds even
when applied according to label
instructions. The chemical compounds
most often implicated in bird kills are
organophosphorus and carbamate
Pesticides and Birds
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
International
Migratory Bird Day
(IMBD)
Set on the second Saturday in
May, IMBD is an invitation to
celebrate and support migratory
bird conservation.
Raptors are particularly vulnerable to
negative impacts from rodenticides
(pesticides used to control rodents). Since
these birds are opportunistic feeders—they
will eat animals found dead or dying—
raptors are readily exposed through the
ingestion of poisoned rodents.
insecticides (e.g., parathion, diazinon,
aldicarb, and carbofuran), which disrupt
a bird’s nervous system, eventually
resulting in respiratory failure and death.
What Can You Do?
Homeowners play a major role in
pesticide consumption. In a 1992 National
Home and Garden Pesticide Use Survey,
more than 63 percent of the households
surveyed had 1 to 5 pesticides in storage.
Moreover, homeowners use up to 10 times
more chemical pesticides per acre on
their lawns than farmers and spend more
per acre, on average, to maintain their
lawns than farmers spend per acre on
crops.
Fortunately, homeowners have many
opportunities to lessen the impacts of
pesticides on birds and minimize bird
deaths.
Reduce your dependence on pesticides.
Practice prevention and minimize the
build-up of pests, thus reducing the need
for pesticides. Move piles of wood away
from the house and elevate them off the
ground; clear away litter, garbage, and
pet droppings; and provide good drainage
to prevent standing water that will
attract pests such as mosquitoes.
Plant native grasses, shrubs, and trees.
This will help decrease the need for
fertilizers and watering, as well as
pesticides, because native plants are
often hardier than non-native plants and
less susceptible to pests and disease.
Contact your County Cooperative
Extension Service for help in identifying
native plants for your region.
Put an assortment of plants in your yard
to increase biological diversity and
encourage a variety of beneficial
organisms that provide natural pest
control. Also, rotate the plants in your
annual garden to reduce pest buildup and
maintain soil quality.
Grow plants that are natural insect
repellents, such as lemon balm, among
your flowers and vegetables to help keep
unwanted insects away.
Attract birds. Birds play an important
role in pest control. Even leaf-eating
birds prefer nutritious insects when
building strength for parenthood. In fact,
insects are a major part of many
songbirds’ diets. Design your yard to
provide ample food, cover, and shelter for
birds, and place a birdbath in the center
of your garden. (Birds can usually find
enough food, but adequate water is often
hard to come by.)
Choose non-chemical controls whenever
possible. In your garden, try mulching to
avoid weed growth, and spading, hoeing,
or pulling up weeds. For your lawn, mow
frequently and set your mower at 2 to 3
inches. This encourages a healthier,
thicker lawn better able to survive
drought, tolerate insect damage, fend off
disease, and shade out weeds that are
attempting to germinate and grow.
Use selected pesticides and apply them
carefully. If you must use a chemical
pesticide, use one that is specifically
registered for your needs and has the
least environmental impact. Apply it in a
controlled and localized manner to help
prevent contamination of surrounding
areas by aerial drift, runoff, or other
means. Contact your County Cooperative
Extension Service or local nursery for
help in identifying pesticides that most
closely meet these criteria. Always
closely read and follow the directions on
the product label when applying
pesticides. Be aware that many “organic”
pesticides may be just as toxic as
synthetic pesticides.
Properly dispose of surplus pesticides
according to product labels or by
checking with local solid waste
management authorities.
Learn more. Information on least-toxic
alternatives to pesticides is widely
available in books and magazines on
organic gardening, which can be found at
local libraries and at home and garden
centers. The Internet is also a good
source of information. Try these sites:
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s
Environmental Contaminants Program
at http://contaminants.fws.gov.
The Natural Resource Conservation
Service’s Backyard Conservation at
www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/CCS/
Backyard.html.
The Natural Resource Conservation
Service’s Lawn and Garden Care at
www.ncg.nrcs.usda.gov/lawn.html.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs at
www.epa.gov/pesticides.
For more information, contact:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Office of Migratory Bird Management
IMBD Events and Information Coordinator
703/358 2318
IMBD@fws.gov
March 2000
Attracting wild birds is a good,
safe way to combat pests.
