Environmental health news
This environmental health news I read recently from ehn.org, which I subscribe to, posted a recent finding on a common insecticide used in agriculture is affecting migrating birds that use the fields for food and water. The article reports that the insecticide, neonicotinoid is harming migrating birds and also affecting the bee population as well. This pesticide is used commonly on corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans and a few other fruits and vegetables to prevent destruction of the crops, however, this insecticide affects the migration delays and weight loss of migratory birds. A study done in Saskatchewan, Canada tested the neonicotinoid on a certain species of migrating birds that use the agricultural fields to refuel, what the researchers found was, these birds that were exposed to the a neonicotinoid caused an anorexic response resulting in rapid weight loss, and the birds did not leave the stopover site to continue their migration, both effects could result in the birds survival. According to the researchers, this delay in migration process can affect the birds' nesting and reproduction cycle. The researchers also state that since 1966, 74 percent of bird populations have declined in North America, that rely on farm habitats.
When I read the report, I did not find the headliner a new concept but rather I found the article to be interesting in how the researchers explained the decline of migratory birds, and how this particular component in the pesticide acts as a neurotoxin to migratory birds.
'Canary in a coal mine' is a truism and as such a cliché...for a reason. Despite being distant descendants of robust dinosaurs, modern avians are typically of a fragile constitution. Just as the canaries were sensitive to CO2 levels before they could be felt by the human workers, so are current populations. Bell-weathers all.
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteIsn't it disturbing that toxic chemical negatively impacts birds. I am wondering how the birds get treatments for their exposure, human being must be lucky and should count their blessing because of their higher sense, and having the ability to prevent exposure, and or actually get treatment for any of the exposures. Just read that neonicotinoid use is also linked in a large rang of studies to adverse ecological effects, including honey-bee colony collapse disorder,and loss of birds due to reduction in insect populations.