Eagles and waterfowl are killed each year in british columbia by inappropriate pesticide use. Inappropriate pesticide use includes negligent use not following label precautions or intentional misuse of pesticides to control a problem not listed on the label.

It is illegal to use pesticides except in accordance
with label directions.

exact numbers of birds killed by pesticides are difficult to estimate because dead birds are not always recovered and analyzed. Nonetheless, in the delta area alone, environment canada has found lethal doses of pesticides in approximately six eagles each year. The eagles pick up pesticides by scavenging on ducks and other birds that have died from feeding in pesticide-treated fields. Therefore, the number of poisoned eagles is just "the tip of the iceberg" and indicates many more deaths of the birds that eagles eat.

In bc, the pesticides most often detected in poisoned eagles are the insecticides fonofos (dyfonate), fenthion (baytex, tiguvon, spotton, lysoff, entex), and carbofuran (furadan). Fonofos and carbofuran are commonly used in granular formulations applied to control soil-dwelling insects. Seed-eating birds such as ducks and geese will eat the granules if these are not well-incorporated into the soil after application. Always ensure that granular pesticides are worked into the soil completely for maximum effectiveness and to prevent bird poisonings. Monitoring for target insects should be practiced within a program of integrated pest management (ipm) to make sure that pesticide applications are actually necessary in the first place. Pests are less likely to develop resistance to pesticides if they are used only when absolutely necessary. This allows conservative use of valuable pesticides, preserving their effectiveness for the future.

Fenthion is registered as an insecticide for the control of some pests of ornamental plants and for application to the skin of animals to control parasites. Fenthion was formerly used for control of some pest bird species, such as starlings, but is no longer registered for this purpose. There is some indication that fenthion has been used illegally in recent years to control starlings roosting in cattle barns during the winter. Such a practice can result in poisoning of raptors feeding on the killed starlings. Starlings should be controlled through means other than pesticides whenever possible. when pesticides are necessary, only currently registered pesticides should be used for the purpose.

Traps and spike wire and even the installation of nest boxes to attract barn owls have all been used successfully in bc to reduce starling problems in barns to acceptable levels without the use of pesticides. Such additional control tactics are another key component of integrated pest management. Farmers — and all other users — are required to follow pesticide label directions.

Pesticide users are encouraged to take additional precautions to prevent harm to organisms other than the targeted pests. Any off-label uses of pesticides are a violation of the Pesticide control act unless prior authorization is received from the appropriate federal or provincial agency (pest management regulatory agency or the ministry of water, land and air protection pesticide management section. If you need assistance in proper pesticide use or information on appropriate alternatives for starling control or any other agricultural pest please contact:

Pesticide management program
lower mainland and vancouver island
ministry of water, land and air protection
10470 152nd st
surrey, bc v3r0y3
e-mail: Senior pest management officer

Or the Ministry of agriculture, food and fisheries

• Information on Starling control
  
  
• Information on Eagle pesticide poisoning