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Subject: [WNV-L] Explanation for Robin Die-Off? (3)
Date:
July 9, 2003
Posted by:
Michael Gochfeld (gochfeld@eohsi.rutgers.edu)
Dominick Ninivaggi (Dominick.Ninivaggi@co.suffolk.ny.us)
[1] From: Michael Gochfeld <gochfeld@eohsi.rutgers.edu> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 This is the kind of die-off that impressed Rachel Carson. MIKE GOCHFELD [2] From: "Ninivaggi, Dominick" <Dominick.Ninivaggi@co.suffolk.ny.us> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 Unless the dead birds have been analysed for pesticide residues there's no way of knowing if pesticides are involved. I think if you went into any suburban neighborhood, whether there were dead robins or not, you would find a "history of spraying", so any "correlation" is meaningless. Given the way some people use lawn pesticides, I would not be surprised if pesticides turned out to be the cause, but let's use good logical thinking here, rather than simply blaming the "usual suspect". > Date: July 8, 2003 > From: Robyn Graboski <robyn@statecollege.com> > To: cyoung@nd.edu, West Nile Virus Listserve <WESTNILEVIRUS-L@cornell.edu> > > I have personally seen die offs like that after someone has used > lawn care on their lawn, especially pesticides or herbicides. > The robins eat grubs and worms from the grass and experience secondary > poisoning. I always ask if lawn care/spraying has been done in the > area when I get an adult robin that cannot fly. Most of the time there > is a correlation. Sometimes there are > several robins found in the same lawn...some dead...some stumbling. > And there is usually a history of spraying in the area.. > >From what I hear from other rehabbers, poisoning and WNV > symptoms are very similar, if not identical. > > Robyn > > cyoung@nd.edu wrote: > > > I have just had two coworkers from opposite ends of the county >report 2-3 dead robins apiece in their yards in the past two weeks. >Has anyone else had any, or know of any explanation? > > > > Catherine Young > > Department of Biological Sciences > > University of Notre Dame > > -- > Robyn Graboski, Licensed wildlife rehabilitator > Centre Wildlife Care > PO Box 572, Lemont, PA 16851 > (814) 237-6548 > http://www.wildaboutanimals.net > robyn@statecollege.com > > " Never doubt that a small group of people can change > the world, in fact it is the only thing that ever has" > -Margaret Mead