USDA: Blackbirds, Red-Winged - killed, intentional: 965,889 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/prog_data/2009_prog_data/PDR_G_FY09/Basic_Tables_PDR_G/Table_G_FY2009_Short.pdf
And the rest... >http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/0120/Bye-Bye-Blackbird-USDA-acknowledges-a-hand-in-one-mass-bird-death > >Bye Bye Blackbird: USDA acknowledges a hand in one mass bird death > >One in a series of mysterious mass bird deaths in the past month was >the product of a USDA avicide program, which began as operation Bye >Bye Blackbird in the 1960s. > >By Patrik Jonsson, Staff writer / January 20, 2011 > >Atlanta > >It's not the "aflockalyptic" fallout from a secret US weapon lab as >some have theorized. But the government acknowledged Thursday that it >had a hand in one of a string of mysterious mass bird deaths that >have spooked residents in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Dakota, >and Kentucky in the last month. > >The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) took >responsibility for hundreds of dead starlings that were found on the >ground and frozen in trees in a Yankton, S.D., park on Monday. > >The USDA's Wildlife Services Program, which contracts with farmers >for bird control, said it used an avicide poison called DRC-1339 to >cull a roost of 5,000 birds that were defecating on a farmer's cattle >feed across the state line in Nebraska. But officials said the agency >had nothing to do with large and dense recent bird kills in Arkansas >and Louisiana. > >Nevertheless, the USDA's role in the South Dakota bird deaths puts a >focus on a little-known government bird-control program that began in >the 1960s under the name of Bye Bye Blackbird, which eventually >became part of the USDA and was housed in the late '60s at a NASA >facility. In 2009, USDA agents euthanized more than 4 million >red-winged blackbirds, starlings, cowbirds, and grackles, primarily >using pesticides that the government says are not harmful to pets or >humans. > >In addition to the USDA program, a so-called depredation order from >the US Fish and Wildlife Service allows blackbirds, grackles, and >starlings to be killed by anyone who says they pose health risks or >cause economic damage. Though a permit is needed in some instances, >the order is largely intended to cut through red tape for farmers, >who often employ private contractors to kill the birds and do not >need to report their bird culls to any authority. > >"Every winter, there's massive and purposeful kills of these >blackbirds," says Greg Butcher, the bird conservation director at the >National Audubon Society. "These guys are professionals, and they >don't want to advertise their work. They like to work fast, >efficiently, and out of sight." > >Bird kills turning too zealous? > >The depredation order, however, is under review for its impact on the >rare rusty blackbird, which roosts with more common species. >Ornithologists also suspect that the mass killings may be a factor in >declining populations of those species in the US. > >While the USDA keeps tabs on the number of birds the program >euthanizes, the total death toll isn't known because private >contractors operating under the depredation order aren't required to >keep count in the case of blackbirds, cowbirds, grackles, and >starlings. > >"My biggest concern is we don't know how many birds are being killed, >and we don't have a sense of how at risk the rusty blackbird is >because of depredation events in their range," says Mr. Butcher. > >Yankton animal control officer Lisa Brasel told KTIV-TV that she >first believed a cold snap had killed some 200 European starlings >that were found dead in Riverside Park, reminding some residents of >the final scenes of Alfred Hitchcock's thriller, "The Birds." > >But then she said she received a call from a USDA official who said >the agency had poisoned a roost of starlings 10 miles south of >Yankton. Usually such poisonings result in flocks falling directly >out of their tree roosts. But in this case, the birds traveled a fair >distance before falling. "They were surprised they came to Yankton >like they did and died in our park," said Brasel, according to >KTIV-TV. > >How birds plague farmers > >Carol Bannerman, a Wildlife Services spokeswoman, said such kills are >carried out at the request of farmers who can prove the birds are a >nuisance. The farmers also help pay the cost, according to the agency. > >One example of nuisance birds are European starlings, a non-native >species, at US dairies, where a flock of 5,000 can eat 200 pounds of >feed a day while soiling equipment and dairy cows. > >"It's not that we have anything against starlings, but our charge is >to help protect agriculture ... and protect property and human health >or safety," she says. "And the fact is, in a lot of rural settings, >people say, 'It's just birds, what's the problem?' " > >Ms. Bannerman added, however, that the agency takes care to notify >local public-health and law-enforcement agencies before a scheduled >kill, and noted "what went on in Louisiana and Arkansas, that was >totally outside of what we're doing. We're quite concerned that >people not connect those." > >Two mass bird deaths in north Alabama this week are being >investigated, with specimens being tested for toxicity. Two other >mass bird deaths in Gilbertville and Murray, Ky., earlier this month >were not linked to poison, but could have been caused by unseasonably >cold weather. The most widely reported recent mass bird deaths - in >Louisiana and Arkansas - have been tied to birds en masse flying into >buildings and power lines. > >Rogue fireworks in Arkansas > >In Arkansas, state ornithologist Karen Rowe has reviewed ground radar >records that show a 20,000-plus bird roost taking flight at >approximately 10:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve, 15 minutes after a series >of large booms shook the windows of houses in a nearby subdivision. > >This has caused state wildlife officials to pin the blame on a >resident who may have gotten a hold of professional-grade fireworks. >The dead birds were likely animals that were trying to land in the >dark and hit some kind of object after being drawn to toward the >artificial light of the neighborhood. > >"So far, no one has confessed to letting off the fireworks, but the >question remains if anyone would admit to it," says Ms. Rowe. They >needn't fear retribution. Despite the number of birds that died, no >laws were broken. > >Some 5 billion birds die every year across the US, most largely >unnoticed. Mass deaths are not uncommon. The US Geological Service's >website listed about 90 mass deaths of birds and other wildlife in >the last six months of 2010. > >"Whether people are noticing it more and pointing it out more this >year than in the past, is something that I'd be thinking about," says >Bannerman at the USDA. > > >>... Not to mention this: >> >>http://www.alternet.org/story/149440/%27aflockalypse%27%3A_here%27s_why_we_should_really_be_concerned_about_the_huge_bird_and_fish_die-off?page=entire >> >>AlterNet / By Tara Lohan >> >>'Aflockalypse': Here's Why We Should Really Be Concerned About the >>Huge Bird and Fish Die-off >> >>The massive death toll of dead birds and sea life should draw >>attention to the countless other species on the brink of extinction. >> >>January 7, 2011 >> >>By now, we've all seen the news reports of the "Aflockalypse." The >>New Year came in with a bang in Beebe, Arkansas when thousands of >>blackbirds fell from the sky. As news reports of the eerie incident >>spread, similar stories began surfacing all over the world: Massive >>fish kills by the thousands in Brazil, New Zealand, the Arkansas >>River and the Chesapeake; more bird deaths in Louisiana, Kentucky and >>Sweden; and tens of thousands of dead crabs (aptly named dead devil >>crabs) washing ashore in the U.K. >> >>2011 seems to have gotten off to an ominous start, but so far no one >>credible has come up with a theory to link all these occurrences >>together. They appear to be mostly isolated catastrophes. Sadly, this >>kind of stuff happens a fair bit, and in our uber-connected world, >>it's getting easier and easier to share when they do. Although I do >>admit that some of the purported explanations thus far sound kind of > >far-fetched. The 100 or so dead jackdaws in Sweden were explained by >>a veterinarian to a local news outlet: "Our main theory is that the >>birds were scared away because of the fireworks and landed on the >>road, but couldn't fly away from the stress and were hit by a car." >> >>One car? Really? I can't imagine being the driver who kills 100 birds >>simultaneously. But the other incidents, perhaps, have better >>explanations that are largely due to either weather (cold snap) or >>environmental factors (fireworks, lightening, disease). As for >>Britain's crabs -- well, it turns out that this is the third year in >>a row it has happened, which may or may not be comforting, depending >>on how you look at things. >> >>The only upside to these die-offs has been the rapt attention of >>readers, which is great; however, no offense to jackdaws and dead >>devil crabs, but there are a whole lot of other species on the brink >>that could use the publicity. >> >>For starters, the World Wide Fund for Nature (also known in the U.S. >>as the World Wildlife Fund) just released its top 10 list of >>endangered species: the tiger, polar bear, Pacific walrus, Magellanic >>penguin, leatherback turtle, Atlantic bluefin tuna, mountain gorilla, >>monarch butterfly, Javan rhino and the giant panda are the unlucky >>finalists. While one night of fireworks revelry may have offed a few >>thousands birds this year, the creatures on WWF's list are teetering >>on the edge of extinction thanks to decades, and in some cases >>centuries, of hard work by humans. >> >>Loss of habitat and poaching may claim our remaining 3,200 wild >>tigers, 720 mountain gorillas and 60 Javan rhinos. Polar bears, >>Pacific walruses and Magellanic penguins are losing out to climate >>change. We're doing in leatherback turtles, which have managed to >>survive on this earth for 100 million years, thanks to overfishing >>(they're often killed as bycatch), and their habitat is endangered by >>rising sea levels and temperatures. Bluefin look like they will be >>eaten into extinction in the form of sushi. Treehugger reported that, >>"A single bluefin tuna just sold at auction for a new record price of >>32.49 million yen in Tokyo. That's nearly $400,000 for a single >>fish," which means there is a pretty big monetary incentive for >>fishing them until they are wiped off the planet. Monarch butterflies >>and giant pandas can hang on only so long as we can protect their >>vital habitat. >> >>And these 10 are only the tip of the iceberg. A recent infographic on >>Mother Nature Network reveals that in the last 500 years, 900 species >>of plants and animals have gone extinct and 10,000 more are close to >>making that list. We've done the most damage, however, in the last >>100 years. Biologically rich Ecuador has the most to lose, with 2,211 >>endangered species, but the U.S. is a close second (1,203 endangered >>species). >> >>Honeybees aren't officially designated as endangered, but the >>population of these essential pollinators is falling thanks to >>"colony collapse disorder." A recent leaked EPA memo implicates the >>pesticide clothianidin as a contributor to honeybee die-offs, >>although sadly the EPA has yet to curb the chemical's use in the U.S. >> >>Bumblebees aren't faring much better, as a recent report concludes >>that four common species in the U.S. have declined by a startling 97 >>percent. "According to the Center for Ecology and Hydrology in the >>UK, three of the 25 British species of bumblebee are already extinct >>and half of the remainder have shown serious declines, often up to 70 >>percent, since around the 1970s," writes Sami Grover for Treehugger. >>Without these pollinators, we'll be incredibly short on food. >> >>If you follow the news, it's likely you've heard about the sad state >>of our bee populations, but I doubt you're clued into the precarious >>fate of the Saola. Only discovered in 1992, Saolas are often likened >>to unicorns, although they have two horns and are found (very rarely) >>in the mountains of Laos and Vietnam. They are officially designated >>as "critically endangered," the last bus stop before extinction. > > >>When you begin to stop and take stock (like here in the IUCN Red List >>Web site), it can be overwhelming. We may lose tiny, but hugely >>important creatures like the half-inch long krill -- a fisheries >>staple -- or the ancient and massive gray whale that migrates 10,000 >>miles a year. And soon, if we are not careful, we may lose entire >>ecosystems, like the Great Barrier Reef. And life, really and truly, >>as we know it, will not be the same. >> >>We can do something about this. We can seriously consider what's >>pushing so much life on this planet toward extinction -- climate >>change and its myriad manifestations, habitat destruction, pollution, >>pesticides, poaching, overfishing and hunting, poor management and >>short-sighted politics. >> >>We can take action now, or we can wait until it starts raining dead >>birds. Oh wait, that's already happening. I guess that only leaves us >>with one choice. >> >>Tara Lohan is a senior editor at AlterNet. >> >> >>>I signed the petition from Avaaz. I hope you will too. see info below. >>> >>>Joe >>> >>> >>> >>>Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in >>>danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, >>>pollinating 90% of the plants we grow. >>> >>>Scientists increasingly blame one group of toxic pesticides for their >>>rapid demise, and bee populations have soared in four European countries >>>that have banned these p! roducts. But powerful chemical companies are >>>lobbying hard to keep selling this poison. Our best chance to save bees >>>now is to push the US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical >>>and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world. >>> >>>We have no time to lose -- the debate is raging about what to do. This >>>is not just about saving bumble bees, this is about our survival. Let's >>>build a giant global buzz calling for the EU and US to outlaw these >>>killer chemicals and save our bees and our food. Sign the emergency >>>petition now and send it on to everyone and we'll deliver it to key >>>decision makers: >>> >>>http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/97.php?cl_tta_sign=f5178bbdb865c699796c0757009c00f7 >>> >>>Bees are vital to life on earth -- every year pollinating plants and >>>crops with an estimated $40bn value, over one third of the food supply >>>in many countries. With! out immediate action to save bees we could end >>>up with no fruit, no vegetables, no nuts, no oils and no cotton. >>> >>>Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee >>>populations -- some bee species are now extinct and others are at just >>>4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for >>>answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of >>>factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But new >>>leading independent research has produced strong evidence blaming >>>neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, >>>where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee >>>killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world. >>> >>>This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmed >>>the scale of this problem. If we can get European and US decision-makers >>>to take action, others will follow. It won't be easy. A leaked document >>>shows that the US Environmental Protection Agency knew about the >>>pesticide's dangers, but ignored them. The document says Bayer's "highly >>>toxic" product is a "major risk concern to non target insects [honey bees]". >>> >>>We need to make our voices heard to counter Bayer's very strong >>>influence on policy makers and scientists in both the US and the EU >>>where they fund the studies and sit on policy bodies. The real experts >>>-- the beekeepers and farmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited >>>until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are >>>safe. Let's support them now. Sign the petition below, then forward this >>>email: >>> >>>http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/97.php?cl_tta_sign=f5178bbdb865c699796c0757009c00f7 >>> >>>We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research > >>run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their >>>pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for >>>ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on. >>> >>>With hope, >>> >>>Alex, Alice, Iain, David and all at Avaaz >>> >>>MORE INFORMATION >>> >>>Bee decline could be down to chemical cocktail interfering with brains >> >>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/22/chemicals-bees-decline-major-study?INTCMP=SRCH >>> >>>Bee briefing >>>http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=RXLEm9WXrHk%3D&tabid=439 >>><http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=RXLEm9WXrHk%3D&tabid=439> >>> >>>$15 Billion Bee Murder Mystery Deepens >>>http://www.businessinsider.com/colony-collapse-disorder-still-unsolved-lead-researcher-had-connections-to-bayer-2010-10 >>> >>>"Nicotine Bees" Population Restored With Neonicotinoids Ban >>>http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/nicotine-bees-population-restored-with-neonicotinoids-ban.php >>> >>>EPA memo reveals concern that pesticide causes bee deaths >>>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=79910 >>> >>>Beekeepers want government to pull pesticide >>>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/beekeepers-want-government-to-pull-pesticide-1107701.html >>> >>>British Beekeepers' Association to stop endorsing bee-killing pesticides >>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/16/beekeepers-end-pesticide-endorsement?INTCMP=SRCH >>> >>>Pesticide industry involvement in EU risk assessment puts survival of >>>bees at stake > > >>http://www.corporateeurope.org/agribusiness/news/2010/11/16/pesticide-industry-future-bees _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
