Bird Deaths from WNV and Pesticides

<x-flowed>Ward Stone, pathologist with the NYS Department of Environmental
Conservation's Wildlife Pathology Unit released some interesting and
significant findings in a June 1, 2001 interview reported in the
following article from the Albany Times Union (June 2, 2001).
Concern about WNV led to his Unit looking at cause of death of
approximately 10,000 birds last year, a sample size at least several
times greater than in prior years. They found that nearly a fifth of
the deaths (1,953) were due to toxins, primarily pesticides, while
WNV led to 1,263 bird deaths. These numbers are more clear-cut than
an understanding of ecological significance of the deaths--from
either WNV or pesticides/toxins--to bird populations.

It's important to note that the pesticides causing the bird deaths
are not the same pesticides as used for WNV control. Thus the bird
deaths are not directly relevant to a debate pro/con use of
pesticides against WNV. However, these data present a strong case
against use of pesticides in ways that do cause bird deaths. -- Lois
Levitan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Albany Times Union, Saturday, June 2, 2001
By Dina Cappiello

West Nile tests give bird's-eyeview of a killer

New Scotland -- Pesticides, other toxics responsible for one-fifth of
birds' deaths, data show

The thousands of dead birds tested for West Nile virus each year are
helping scientists create, for the first time, a full picture of what
kills birds in New York.

And among their findings is that an environmental menace of the '60s
and '70s that led some bird species to the brink of extinction
remains a problem today: pesticides.

Of the roughly 10,000 birds turned into the state's Wildlife
Pathology Unit last year for suspected death by West Nile virus,
about one-fifth, or 1,953, were killed by toxics, mostly pesticides.

West Nile virus was responsible for the deaths of 1,263 birds.

Other causes of death include blunt trauma and natural causes.

A sample of the autopsy reports sent to county health departments by
the unit showed at least 14 different pesticides killing birds --
from rat killers to insect killers to chemicals either banned or
being phased out.

The most common route of pesticide exposure was through diet: birds
eating poisoned rodents, eating tainted grass and birdseed, and, in
the case of lead poisoning, eating dead animals killed by lead
bullets.

"There is not an increase in (pesticide deaths), we just have it
recorded better," said state wildlife pathologist Ward Stone.

Before West Nile virus turned up in New York in the summer of 1999,
Stone tested only a few thousand birds each year. Now he looks at
tens of thousands, a population so large that he eventually will be
able to analyze the distribution of bird deaths.

But Stone said Friday that it is too early to say whether pesticides,
or the other toxics, are reducing bird populations, about which there
is too little data.

The Citizens Campaign for the Environment said the findings should
prompt more study of the effects pesticides have on birds and humans.

"This means toxic substances that are persistent in the environment
are having impacts on non-target organisms,'' said Robert Foster, a
legislative director for the group.

Local health departments contacted Friday said that in their review
of state reports, they did not see pesticides as a major killer of
birds in the Capital Region.

"We didn't see that trend,'' said Denise Ayers of the Rensselaer
County Health Department. "Some were gunshot wounds. Some were broken
necks. I don't recall a lot of pesticides.''

If you find a dead bird, contact your county Health Department or
call (866) 537-2473.

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WESTNILEVIRUS-L is an email discussion group for communication
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Received on Wed Jun 13 16:59:45 2001