Reduction in Bird Populations and Reproductive Success vis a’ vis Pesticide Exposure: Status Paper

Over the last six decades, agricultural intensification and pesticides exposure has been linked to substantial declines in both the range and abundance of farmland birds. Rachel Carson’s book ‘Silent Spring’ raised the issue of detrimental effect of organochlorides such as synthetic pesticide DDT (dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane) on peregrine falcon, bald eagle and many other bird species, which resulted in banning of DDT worldwide. Authors have analyzed about 100 research publications which have confirmed that organochlorides, organophosphates, carbamates and neonicotinoids pesticides are having adverse impacts on reproduction, embryos, reproductive behavior and endocrine system of exposed birds; leading to catastrophic declines in their populations. Hence, interventions like regulated use of pesticides and international cooperation are required for implementation of bird population recovery, thus paving way for addressing and reversing losses of ornithological fauna.