Intentional Poisoning of Birds with Parathion

Intentional poisoning of birds by farmers is not uncommon but is rarely documented and given proper attention. Two recent cases from New York are illustrative. In the first, at least 5,120 birds, mostly Red-winged Black-birds (Agelaius phoeniceus), Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) and Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were killed by parathion- (an organophosphate insecticide) treated corn, which had been distributed on a truck farm in mid-March. In the second, at least 3,196 birds, mostly Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), died after ingesting parathion-treated rye seed spread near unharvested field corn in late March. A Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii), two Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) and an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) were killed in these cases after consuming poisoned icterids. Small numbers of birds in six other species were also killed in these incidents.