Wildlife

Wild Bird Pesticide Exposure

Pesticide exposure including insecticides, herbicides, and rodenticides causes significant wild bird mortality and sublethal welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Neonicotinoid insecticides impair bird navigation, immune function, and reproduction
Second-generation rodenticides cause secondary poisoning in raptors and owls
Herbicide use reduces insect availability that birds depend on for feeding chicks
Farmland bird populations have declined dramatically in line with pesticide intensification

Welfare Considerations

Wild birds exposed to pesticides experience sublethal effects including disorientation, reduced reproductive success, and immune suppression that compromise welfare before causing death. The cumulative landscape-level reduction in insect availability from pesticide use reduces food availability for insectivorous birds, affecting their ability to feed themselves and their chicks. Reducing pesticide use protects bird welfare at a landscape scale.

What You Can Do

Reduce pesticide use in gardens including neonicotinoids and second-generation rodenticides
Support organic farming that reduces pesticide exposure for farmland birds
Advocate for stronger pesticide registration requirements protecting wildlife
Monitor birds in your area and report declines to citizen science programs