Intentional Poisoning of Birds with Parathion

• Published in: The Condor (Los Angeles, Calif.) Vol. 86; no. 3; pp. 333 - 336
• Main Authors: Stone, Ward B., Overmann, Stephen R., Okoniewski, Joseph C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Santa Clara, CA Cooper Ornithological Society 01-08-1984; Cooper Ornithological Club
• Subjects: Accipiter cooperii; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Birds of prey; Buteo jamaicensis; Corn; Falco sparverius; Fresh water ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grains; Pesticides; Phosphoric acid esters; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Poisoning; Rye; Synecology; Toxicity; Vertebrates; Wild birds; USA, New York; Vertebrata; Pest; Insecticide; Toxicity; Chemical control; Secondary effect; Poisoning; Organophosphorus compounds; Aves
• ISSN: 0010-5422; 1938-5129
• DOI: 10.2307/1367004

Intentional poisoning of birds by farmers is not uncommon but is rarely documented and given proper attention. Two recent cases from New York are illustrative. In the first, at least 5,120 birds, mostly Red-winged Black-birds (Agelaius phoeniceus), Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) and Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were killed by parathion- (an organophosphate insecticide) treated corn, which had been distributed on a truck farm in mid-March. In the second, at least 3,196 birds, mostly Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), died after ingesting parathion-treated rye seed spread near unharvested field corn in late March. A Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii), two Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) were killed in these cases after consuming poisoned icterids. Small numbers of birds in six other species were also killed in these incidents.