Neonicotinoids and Birds

by Jannaca Chick

This past year there has been a lot in the news about the effects of neonicotinoids particularly in relation to bees, but also on birds as well as the environment. As I am interested in how these insecticides could affect birds, I contacted Alison Moran, who coordinates the Hummingbird Project at RPBO. She said that she often gets asked this question and directed me to a number of online resources. I thought it might be useful to outline how these pesticides work, why they are used, the effect on birds, and the basis of the current controversy.

What are Neonicotinoids?
Neonicotinoids, commonly called “neonics”, are broad-spectrum systemic insecticides. They were first introduced in the 1990s in response to the widespread resistance of pests to older products, as well as health concerns associated with them. Neonicotinoids are now the most widely-used insecticides in the world, registered for use on hundreds of field crops in over 120 countries. They are coated on seeds, sprayed on plants and injected into trees. You may also use them regularly, since some, such as imadocloprid (Advantage®), are commonly used in treatments for pets to prevent fleas and lice.

How Neonics Work

Neonicotinoids are neurotoxic for many invertebrates, meaning that they disrupt information flow down nerves and thus, have an impact on muscle coordination and spatial perception, such as the location of a food resource. As such, neonics can act directly and indirectly. They act directly as toxins, affecting invertebrates such as plant predators, which eat coated seeds or plant tissues containing the insecticide. They can also affect organisms indirectly by altering prey availability.

Neonics are water-soluble which causes them to break down more quickly than the older class of more recalcitrant insecticides. It was expected that they would break down quickly; however, some environmentalists and scientists are concerned that studies show this class of insecticides is lasting longer than expected in the environment. They are worried about leaching and runoff potential, groundwater infiltration, and the possibility of longer-term direct and indirect effects on target and non-target species.

Neonicotinoids’ toxicity to bees and other insects, as well as their effects on birds and the environment at large, has been much in the news this past year. Information from scientific studies and statistics on honey industry bee losses have led to a better understanding of observed, and potential, environmental effects. While these effects are being addressed generally by regulatory agencies and industry, responses by different countries (and even provinces of Canada) differ. For example, Ontario has decided to adopt a precautionary principle with respect to pollinator protection and is just bringing in new regulations that will dramatically reduce neonicotinoid use in that province.

Neonics and Birds

Scientific literature identifies a number of environmental concerns for avian species. Although supposedly not an intended target of the insecticide, birds can be directly and indirectly affected by neonics (direct: toxicity from ingestion of coated seeds; indirect: reduced food availability for insectivores). Direct toxicity concerns differ depending on the sensitivity of a species and route of exposure. Concerns are highest for birds that are pollinators, seed eaters, insectivores, nectarivores, and those dependent on invertebrate prey. 

Studies have shown that while neonicotinoids are commonly considered to be safer for mammals and birds than for insects, they can still be dangerous in high enough doses. In Canada, canola seeds, wheat, corn, soybeans, and even some fruits, vegetables and flower seeds are coated with neonics, which allows the them to be incorporated throughout the plants. These are of particular concern for seed-eating birds given the fact that only a small number of seeds need to be ingested to be harmful. According to a study published by Environment Canada researcher Pierre Mineau in 2013, “a single kernel of imidacloprid-treated corn can kill small and ‘blue jay-sized birds’, and sicken larger ones”.

For avian insectivores, the abundance and availability of food directly affects their habitat selection, reproductive success, and survival. Aerial insectivores as a group have been experiencing widespread population declines for the last few decades. Their dependence on emergent insects is well known. Since these pesticides persist in water and kill target and non-target species alike, there are fewer insects overall for birds to eat.

It should be noted that during breeding season even seed-eating birds become insectivores and they feed insects to their young in nests. As planting season coincides with bird breeding season, there is an overall increased risk to birds.

Agricultural Perspective

The concerns of farmers must also be recognized. They need to make a living and keep their costs down as their profit margins are small. They already deal with many factors, including variable weather patterns, complex pest management strategies, and changing prices on the open market. Farmers have turned to coated seeds because this use is targeted and broadcast spraying of crops is not necessary, greatly reducing the amount of insecticide used. In addition, pre-treatment of seeds often does away with the need to till fields (tillage can adversely affect soil quality and structure, and can lead to increased land erosion and fertilizer use). If neonics are not used, it is possible that farmers will need to use more land for crops to get the same yield.

In addition to the environmental and economic considerations discussed above, there is also the issue of food security. Most of us are not growing food ourselves and thus, we rely on the output of farmers on a daily basis. This begs the question, ‘If neonicotinoids are banned, then with what will they be replaced?’

More on Neonics

Clearly, neonic use is a multi-faceted topic, with real concerns on all sides. Balancing the environmental costs and benefits of using these products with economics and food security is not a trivial task. However, it is one that regulatory agencies, science and the agriculture industry are trying to solve. There is now a quite a bit of information available on the subject of neonicotinoids. The following links should help you find out more about this topic.

The impact of neonicotinoids on birds:
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/toxins/Neonic_FINAL.pdf
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/decline-in-birds-not-just-bees-linked-to-neonicotinoid-pesticides-1.2706542

A CBC “Quirks and Quarks” interview with Dr. Christy Morrissey, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Saskatchewan, who is currently investigating how neonics affect insects and birds in the prairies: http://www.cbc/quirks/2014/10/04/2014-10-14-1/ The Birds, and the Bees - and the Pesticides

In Canada, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, PMRA, is the agency that issues compliance standards and regulates the use of insecticides by farmers.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/branch-dirgen/pmra-arla/index-eng.php

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/index-eng.php

Ontario is the first province to restrict use of neonics as of 2015.

http://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2015/03/reducing-neonicotinoid-pesticide-use-by-80-per-cent.html

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency’s review of neonicotinoids is focused on the threat to insect pollinators (one third of the U.S. diet depends on insect pollinators):

http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/2015/alt-neonicotinoids.html

http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/about/intheworks/ccd-european-ban.html

A recent letter, January 2015, from the American Soybean Association to the EPA concerning the use of neonics in soybean agriculture:

https://soygrowers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ASA-comments-neonicotinoid-seed-treatments-1-151.pdf

Basic Raptor Identification Workshop 2015

On Saturday and Sunday of January 31^st and February 1^st Rocky Point Bird Observatory hosted a Basic Raptor Identification workshop led by Bill Clark. The focus of this workshop was raptor identification in our area of British Columbia, along with monitoring procedures and techniques, as well as sexing and ageing.

Bill Clark is one of the world's leading authorities on raptor identification and taxonomy. He is a popular and well respected lecturer on diurnal birds of prey. Bill is the author of over 100 papers and books on raptor taxonomy and distribution, including A Field Guide to the Raptors of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (1999). With Brian Wheeler, he co-authored A Field Guide to Hawks of North America (1987, 2001) and A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors (1999). He is widely traveled and has led popular raptor tours around the world ("Raptours").

Saturday was spent in a classroom at the University of Victoria. Bill led the group of about 20 participants through an overview of what to look for in the field when trying to ID raptor species, such as wing shape, overall shape in flight, head projection, tail shape, etc. He went into greater detail as he explained the various characteristics of the specific birds – Vultures, Ospreys, Harriers, Accipiters, Buteos, Eagles, and Falcons. We had a few preserved specimens on hand for closer examination.

 Sharp-shinned Hawks

 Cooper's Hawks

On Sunday we headed out on the 7:00 am ferry across to Tsawwassen, in particular the Boundary Bay area where we could be fairly certain of seeing a diverse number of raptor species. We were met on the other side by some Vancouver birders with vehicles who assisted in driving us around the area so we could see as many raptors as possible. Many thanks and appreciation for their help in making the day a success!

  

Even though rain was forecast, the day remained merely grey and overcast, but mostly dry. The bird life did not disappoint. We saw hundreds of Bald Eagles which provided us with ample opportunity to practice ageing the birds which go through 4 different non-adult plumages before reaching maturity. Hopefully we are all experts now!

3 Bald Eagles of varying ages. Bill thought the large middle bird was Alaskan.  

We saw numerous Northern Harriers – males, females and juveniles. We managed to get some very good looks at several Rough-legged Hawks, Harlan’s Hawks (a distinctive subspecies of Red-tailed Hawks), Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks, a Kestrel, a Merlin or two, a Peregrine Falcon, an Osprey, and also 2 Short-eared Owls hunting across fields around dusk. We did not see any Sharp-shinned Hawks which so closely resemble the Coopers. However, hopefully we will be able to identify them in the field, thanks to Bill’s description of their different field marks, both in flight and when perched. There were no Golden Eagles to be seen, nor Snowy Owls which would have been a treat.

 Rough-legged Hawk

 Rough-legged Hawk

Peregrine Falcon

By the time we all boarded the 5:00 pm ferry we were all saturated with bird sightings and information about our local raptors. No doubt many of us went home and dreamt about birds that night! It was an excellent workshop and we all came away with much more knowledge as a result. Many thanks to Bill Clark for his expertise and teaching skills and to Ann Nightingale for organizing this fantastic weekend. 

 

Overwintering Anna’s Hummingbirds

Photo by Kirill Ignatyev

 
As many of us in Victoria and the south coastal region are well aware, we have a permanent, year-round population of Anna’s Hummingbirds. However, they may also be attempting to overwinter in the interior! If anyone in the BC interior happens to see any Anna’s Hummingbirds during the winter, please report your sightings to: hummingbird@rpbo.org

As hummingbirds are such an iconic, beloved bird for us here on the south coast, many people put out feeders with sugar water to help them overwinter. It’s always helpful to remind ourselves how to properly care for our feeders and how to make the correct nectar for our delightful visitors!

Hummingbirds are extremely territorial and they will zealously guard their own feeder from intruders. You may have noticed that your resident hummingbird comes to your feeder throughout the day, but is always there first thing in the morning and just before dark. If you would like to feed more than one hummingbird family, you can put out another feeder but make sure there is no direct line of sight between them.

The Perfect Sugar Solution

The best sugar solution can be made easily. Just boil 1 cup white table sugar (sucrose) with 4 cups water for 2 min, and then fill your feeder when it has cooled. Higher sugar concentrations, although enticing to the bird (think ice cream sundaes at every meal), have the potential to cause kidney damage and being sticky, make it difficult for the bird to preen. Please note that the use of brown sugar, honey, juice, icing sugar or artificial sweeteners instead of white sugar is very harmful to hummingbirds.

There is no need to purchase hummingbird food as just plain sugar solution is what they like and what is best for the them! Coloured sugar water is unnecessary as they can easily find your feeder just by its red colour. Also, red food colouring may be harmful to birds. Once they know where a feeder is, they will just keep coming back!

Winter Boost: During the winter season if you would like to give your resident birds an added sugar boost, you may increase the sugar solution to 3 parts to 1 (three cups of water to one cup of white sugar). More than that is not recommended for the health of hummingbirds and this percentage should not be used on a regular basis.

The dos and don’ts of feeding hummingbirds can be found on the RPBO website:

http://rpbo.org/hummingbirds.php

Winter Feeder Care

When the temperatures go below zero the sugar water may freeze – it’s important to either bring the feeder inside at night or figure out a way ensure that it stays liquid. Here are links with different ideas to prevent the sugar solution from freezing:

http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/winterfeeder.html

http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/How-To-Keep-Hummingbird-Nectar-From-Freezing.htm

http://www.hummingbirdmarket.com/hummingbird_articles/feeding_hummingbirds_in_the_cold.html

It’s a good idea to place your feeder close to the house in a sheltered spot with an overhang as that will assist in keeping it somewhat warmer. LED lights do not generate heat so if you have the older style Christmas lights they will work. It’s also helpful to have 2 feeders so that you can switch them up when it is really cold, bringing one inside to warm up. Remember that your resident hummingbird will come to your feeder first thing every morning, so be sure to have it ready and waiting!

Keep Your Feeder Clean!

This cannot be emphasized enough! At this time of year your feeder needs cleaning about once a week. Look for black mold and fungus! Use a toothbrush to clean your feeder (the nooks and crannies) and use only mild cleaners (no bleach). There was an incident when hummingbirds were found dying around a particularly dirty feeder. Necropsies were done on the birds and fungus was found in the lining of their respiratory system – they could not breathe! So if you go to the effort of keeping a feeder available for your resident hummers, then it doesn’t take much more work to keep it clean!

If you would like to read more about the feeding of hummingbirds and care of feeders, here are some links below. Let’s keep our feathered friends happy and healthy during these cold days!

http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/Attracting&FeedingHummingbirds.html

http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html

http://www.wildbirdshop.com/Birding/humfeed.html

2014 Migration and Nocturnal Owl Monitoring

Migration Monitoring

It’s better late than never! Here is a recap of our 2014 Migration Monitoring at our two banding stations for this year over the 90 day period from July 21st to October 18^th.

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Pedder Bay Station

At the Pedder Bay station we banded 3056 new birds, had 1117 recaptures and a total of 60 species. The five top banded birds were: Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Wilson's Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, and Golden-crowned Sparrow in that order. Some of our exciting rarities banded were: a Brewer's Sparrow, a Northern Pygmy Owl, and a Black-throated Blue Warbler

 Black-throated Blue Warbler

Northern Pygmy Owl

It is wonderful for Rocky Point to have the Pedder Bay station which is open to the public. We had many visitors this year for both daytime passerine banding and for Northern Saw-whet Owls at night. Both children and adults were fascinated to watch us in action and our banders, interns and volunteers are happy to explain the process to everyone who comes out. It is part of achieving our mandate as outlined below!

“Rocky Point Bird Observatory seeks to influence and inform conservation and ecological management practises of migratory birds in western North America through monitoring, scientific research and public education.”

Rocky Point Bird Observatory Station

The final totals for 2014 migration banding at Rocky Point were: 2694 new birds, 406 recaptures, 4 foreign recaptures and 65 species. The 5 top numbers of species were: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet and White-crowned Sparrow. Some of the more unusual birds banded there this year were: Gray-cheeked Thrush (instantly recognizable to our Ontario Bander-in Charge, Brian Pomfret), Northern Pygmy Owl, Nashville Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow and Northern Rough-winged Swallow.

Nashville Warbler

Barred Owl caught in the early morning

 Marsh Wren

BBQ Fundraisers

We also had 2 very successful fundraising BBQs at Pedder Bay with delicious salmon burgers (salmon donated by the Pedder Bay Marina), followed by a presentation by Ann Nightingale who explained RPBO’s ongoing projects. Then everyone was invited to the banding station to watch Northern Saw-whet Owls being caught, measured and banded. Not surprisingly, both BBQs sold out quickly; these endearing small owls are a treat to see up close and personal!

Northern Saw-whet Owl Monitoring

Owl banding operated from September 15^th until October 31^st. This year, for the first time RPBO operated 2 full time banding stations for owls. Last year we operated out of Pedder Bay only on weekends. We were not expecting 2014 to be such a big year for owls. So, needless to say, we were very surprised by the number of owls caught and banded! It was evidently a very productive year for them. Some of the hatch year birds had very recently fledged, as evidenced by the tawny colouring on their faces and under the wings, indicating some owls had more than one brood.

Northern Saw-whet Owls banded in 2014:
Pedder Bay 482 Rocky Point 681
Total: 1163

We were thrilled to have one of the owls which was banded at Pedder Bay on September 16 recaptured in Idaho at the Intermountain Bird Observatory on October 4.We have now added a Google map on our website which shows the location of our NSWO recaps (both foreign birds we've recaptured and our birds that have been encountered elsewhere). The map can be found on both our Band recoveries page (http://rpbo.org/recoveries.php) and on our NSWO reports page (http://rpbo.org/reports.php?pgm=nswo).

Congratulations and Thanks!

Special congratulations to RPBO interns and volunteers, Acacia Spencer-Hills, Christian Kelly, Serena Johnston and Wallis Moore-Reid on obtaining their banding permits this season!

A big thanks to our passerine Banders-in-Chief: Brian Pomfret at Rocky Point and Rick Schortinghuis at Pedder Bay; and also to our owl BICs: Katie McCreesh and Christian Kelly. Our two interns this year – Serena Johnston and Acacia Spencer-Hills – were fantastic and did an excellent job. Thanks to Ann Nightingale for absolutely everything she does (which is a LOT), keeping everything on track and functioning smoothly. Ann Scarfe deserves special mention for overseeing the WhenToHelp schedule, ensuring that there enough people at both stations day and night – no easy task! And of course a huge thank you to all of our volunteers and supporters who help in so many ways and without whom RPBO could not function.

The Beginning of Migration Monitoring 2014

This year we got off to a great start at both of our banding stations at Rocky Point and Pedder Bay. We have two great interns this year – Serena Johnson and Acacia Spencer-Hills. They will be switching banding stations every week to experience the difference in variety of birds banded in each location.

Serena & Acacia putting up nets at Pedder Bay

 Erecting the Pedder Bay banding station

Both stations got off to a good start on July 21^st. Pedder Bay banded 62 new birds and had 4 recaptures, including a Swainson’s Thrush that was banded on the first day of migration monitoring there last year! Rocky Point banded 47 new birds and had 2 recaptures. A couple of the highlights there were a Cedar Waxwing, a Hammond’s Flycatcher and a Brown Creeper.

Brown Creeper

Day 2, July 22^nd Rocky Point banded an Olive-Sided Flycatcher – a first for this species there – and other highlights were a female Downy Woodpecker, a Cedar Waxwing and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. The notable birds at Pedder Bay were a young male Downy Woodpecker, a female Cedar Waxwing and an American Goldfinch.

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Day 3 at Rocky Point everyone was treated to the spectacle of a large Roosevelt Elk on the property. The highlights were a Warbling Vireo, a female second year Western Tanager, and a female hatch year Downy Woodpecker. At Pedder Bay about a third of the time the nets were closed due to rain, but they still banded 41 new birds. The highlight was 2 very vocal Black-headed Grosbeaks, a mature female and a juvenile. Rick Schortinghuis received one of his most painful bird bites ever from one of the feisty Grosbeaks.

Black-headed Grosbeaks

Downy Woodpecker

 July 24^th, Day 4, there was rain at Rocky Point in the early morning so some net rounds were lost. They did band a Barn Swallow and a Wilson’s Warbler – a “foreign” recapture already banded at Peddar Bay, a whole 4 kilometres away.

Day 5 at Pedder Bay 51 new birds were banded with 13 recaptures. The highlights were 6 Townsend’s Warblers in total (a whole family!), 2 juvenile Chipping Sparrows, 2 Brown Creepers, 1 Warbling Vireo, 11 Wilson’s Warblers, 3 Rufous Hummingbirds and 7 MacGillivray’s Warblers. At Rocky Point they banded 4 new species for this season – a Black-throated Grey Warbler, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a Marsh Wren and a Yellow Warbler. 

Townsend's Warbler

 MacGillivray's Warbler

July 26, Day 6 of Migration, Pedder Bay banded 30 new birds and had 16 recaps with a total of 16 different species. The best bird of the day was a second year male Western Tanager. Rocky Point had a pretty quiet day with 29 birds banded and 5 recaptures. The 2 new species for the season were a House Wren and the first Swainson’s Thrush.

Western Tanager

The final day of the first week Rocky Point banded 20 new birds and had 2 recaptures. The 2 new birds for this year were an American Goldfinch and an Oregon Junco.

On Day 8, July 30^th, Pedder Bay had quite the exciting day. Acacia banded a hatch-year Belted Kingfisher and was quite thrilled with that. Also in the nets were a hatch-year Red-breasted Sapsucker, 2 Cedar Waxwings (male and female after second year) and a female Western Tanager, after second year. 33 new birds were banded, 4 recaps and 16 different species in total.

 

Acacia with a Belted Kingfisher

Hatch year Red-breasted Sapsucker

Pedder Bay has charged into the lead in number of birds banded as well as recaptures, although there is not a great deal of difference in the number of species banded. However Rocky Point typically does not become busy until later in the season.

We are off to a great start for the Migration banding season. A big thanks to all our volunteers, without whom this would not be possible. And of course special thanks to our banders-in-chief – Rick Schortinghuis at Pedder bay and Brian Pomfret at Rocky Point. Also to Ann Scarfe who has to try to organize us all on the When-to-Help schedule and ensure that everything is covered!

Emma Reader-Lee's Baillie Birdathon 2014

Emma Reader-Lee and her mother, Cathy Reader went out together in May to do their Baillie Birdathon day in support of RPBO.

At 14 years of age, Emma is one of our younger local bird enthusiasts. She has the good fortune that both of her parents are enthusiastic birders. Apparently she has always had a keen interest in the natural world. She began recording her birding observations at age 8 when her parents got her Volume 1 of the “Pacific North-west Birding for Children” colouring book by Bob Cockerel. As a result she continues to have a soft spot for ducks. Both Emma and her sister Rebecca began volunteering with RPBO in the last couple of years, particularly coming out to Pedder Bay to assist with Migration banding. At that point their interest in birds really surged. They are so enthusiastic and helpful and it’s pretty incredible that they are ready to get up before dawn to help us!

  

Emma and Cathy began their day at their home in the North Highlands, then went on to Todd Creek Flats, Viaduct Flats, Panama Flats, Esquimalt Lagoon and Royal Roads (missing the Purple Martins by a few days). They spent time looking for the Hooded Oriole in Metchosin to no avail, and continued on to the Langford Tim Horton’s (no Golden Eagle, but there was some badly-needed coffee and chicken-noodle soup), then to Goldstream Provincial Park and back home to rejuvenate and catch their reliable feeder birds, many of which they had missed earlier. After that they went up the Saanich Peninsula to Martinale Flats, Island View Beach, the Sidney waterfront, the Victoria Airport, Pat Bay and then back to the Highlands for a bit of owling. Father Warren and Rebecca (who had already Baillie “Birdathoned” in the Okanagan) joined them in Sidney. Cathy and Emma apparently wished they had someone along who was better at birding by ear but they had a wonderful day and learned a lot through their experience.

When I asked Emma to tell me about her Baillie Day, this is what she sent me:

We saw a total of 76 species. We started at around 4:30 am. Our first bird was an American Robin. Some highlights were:

·       A Sora at dawn (identified by sound at Todd Creek Flats) – we couldn't figure out what it was for a while

·      5 species of swallows

·      Sky Larks at dusk at the airport

·      Begging cries of baby Barred Owls (we got really creeped out, as we didn't know what they were at first. We had to ask someone)

We ended at around 10:30 pm, so it was a long day of birding! It was really fun though!