'On life support:' Research shows common pesticides starve, disorient birds
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/on-life-support-research-shows-common-pesticides-starve-disorient-birds
A white crested sparrow is seen in this undated handout photo. Research suggests that two of Canada's most commonly used pesticides cause migrating songbirds to lose both weight and their sense of direction. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, University of Saskatchewan *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Paper: Imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos insecticides impair migratory ability in a seed-eating songbird
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-15446-x.epdf
Quotes:
"These results suggest that wild songbirds consuming the equivalent of just four imidacloprid-treated canola seeds or eight chlorpyrifos granules per day over 3 days could suffer impaired condition, migration delays and improper migratory direction, which could lead to increased risk of mortality or lost breeding opportunity."
"Declines in migratory bird populations have been linked to a range of complex factors, including the large-scale application of agricultural pesticides."
"Birds that utilize agricultural landscapes may be exposed to insecticides through consumption of treated seeds, granules, or sprayed soils and prey items. Small migratory songbirds that regularly use farmland habitats as a stopover and refuelling source may be particularly susceptible to exposure and the negative effects of neurotoxic insecticides."
"Organophosphates and neonicotinoids have effects on survival, as well as sublethal neurophysiological and behavioural effects in birds, including impaired thermoregulation and food consumption."
More: Common pesticide can make migrating birds lose their way, research shows
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/29/common-pesticide-can-make-migrating-birds-lose-their-way-research-shows
The new research analysed the effect of the neonicotinoid imidacloprid on white-crowned sparrows that migrate from the southern US and Mexico to northern Canada in summer. Photograph: Danita Delimont/Alamy
Neonicotinoids are usually applied to seeds, which can be eaten by many different animals. Photograph: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
