Edward W. Schafer

The acute oral toxicity of 369 pesticidal, pharmaceutical and other chemicals to wild birds

Abstract The acute po toxicity of 369 chemicals was determined for 1 or more species of wild birds, always including either red-winged blackbirds or starlings. Of these, 180 chemicals were toxic to 1 or more species at 100 mg/kg or less. Statistical comparison of redwing, starling and rat data indicated that redwings were more sensitive to chemicals than starlings, and both were more sensitive than rats.

Chemicals as Bird Repellents: Two Promising Agents

Of 724 chemicals screened as repellents for red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), only 6 satisfied criteria for high repellency and low toxicity. Of these, meiylthio-3,Sxylyl Nmethylcarbamate (methiocarb) and 2-methyl-a,a-diphenyl-1-pyrrolidinebutyramide (DRC 3324) were consistently effective against house sparrows (Passer domesticus), grackles (Quiscalus quiscula), pheasants ( Phasianus colchiclls), bicolored blackbirds ( Agelvius tricolor), brown-headed cowbirds ( Molothrus ater), and California quail (Lophortyx californicus). BIRD REPELLENTS * Schafer and Brunton 569 250 man-hours of labor at

Indicator bird species for toxicity determinations: Is the technique usable in test method development?

3.00 per hour

The chronic toxicity of 3-chloro-4-methyl benzamine HCl to birds

750 5 pounds of 4-aminopyridine at

Effects of 77 chemicals on reproduction in male and female coturnix quail

60.00 per pound 3d) NIethocel and acetone for 16 gallons of spray 15 Sprayer parts plus one-fourth the cost of sprayer 35

Potential Secondary Hazards of Avitrol Baits to Sharp-Shinned Hawks and American Kestrels

Pesticide, food, drug, and cosmetic industries have used indicator animal species for many years to provide data on the relative hazards of synthetic or natural chemical products to applicators or users. A considerable amount of toxicological information is available on the relative susceptibility of different mammal species to various chemicals. This information has been used to predict hazards to other mammals, including man. Indicator species often are used for evaluating the efficacy of chemicals or their hazards to wild birds. However, the available toxicological information is generally not sufficient to extrapolate valid relationships between the indicator species and the target species. In this paper we have presented the state of the art for the use of indicator bird species and have expressed pur opinion on the use of these data. Because many current uses for bird indicator species are not well supported by available data, we recommend that further test method development with avian indicator species be terminated until additional data can be gathered on the relevancy of the technique.

Use of Male Coturnix Quail in the Laboratory Development of Avian Chemosterilants

Abstract3-Chloro-4-methyl benzamine HCl (DRC-1339), an avian toxicant, was fed to five species of birds for periods up to 120 days. The 30-day LC50 of uniformly treated feed for starlings was 4.7 ppm and the 90-day LC50 was 1.0 ppm. The 28-day LC50 for coturnix was 18 ppm. The 30-day LC50 for pigeons was less than 100 ppm. Pheasants fed diets containing 2% DRC-1339 baits diluted to a rate of 286 ppm of DRC-1339 died within 22 days. Bobwhite quail fed similar diets suffered some mortality at levels as low as 2.9 ppm, but most survived 10 times this dosage level for the 120-day test period. Application of the Kenaga “Index of Chronicity,” resulted in the conclusion that DRC-1339 was cumulatively toxic to birds.Reproduction in coturnix was adversely affected by treatments at 10 ppm of DRC-1339 and above. Reproduction in pigeons was adversely affected by a treatment of 25 ppm. In coturnix, DRC-1339 caused an increased incidence of egg breakage and decreased both egg and live chick production. In pigeons, DRC-1339 caused an increase in the proportion of infertile eggs. Reproductive ability of first generation offspring was not affected when parent coturnix and pigeons were fed DRC-1339.These data emphasize the need for care in the use of DRC-1339. The bait should be used only as registered and care exercised in storage and disposal of unused baits to avoid poisoning of nontarget species.

Learned Aversion in Wild Birds: A Method for Testing Comparative Acute Repellency

Abstract Seventy-one chemicals were administered as single oral doses at about 50% of the estimated LD 50 to adult male Coturnix quail ( Coturnix coturnix ). None reduced the fertility of eggs produced by female mates by more than 50%. Of six additional chemicals similarly administered to female quail at 24 to 56% of the estimated LD 50 , only one, P,P -bis(1-aziridinyl)- N -phenylphosphinic amide, reduced expected egg fertility by more than 50%.

Test Method for Evaluating the Effects of Chemicals on Starling Reproduction

18pp. MARTIN, L. R., AND J. J. JACKSON. 1977. Field testing a bird repellent chemical on cereal crops. Pages 177-185 in J. R. Beck, ed. Vertebrate pest control and management materials. Am. Soc. Test. Mater. ASTM STP 680. SCHAFER, E. W., JR., AND R. B. BRUNTON. 1971. Chemicals as bird repellents: two promising agents. J. Wildl. Manage. 35:569-572. , R. B. BRUNTON, N. F. LOCKYER, AND J. W. DE GRAZIO. 1973. Comparative toxicity of seventeen pesticides to the quelea, house sparrow, and red-winged blackbird. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 26:154-157.

Toxicity of DRC-1339 to Starlings

Egg fertility of coturnix quail (Coturnix coturnix) was measured for 35 to 45 days following single oral doses of six candidate chemosterilants to adult breeding males, adult males whose testes has been regressed by photoperiod manipulation, twelve-day-old male chicks, and six-week-old males with undeveloped testes. Azacosterol, 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol, and mestranol were essentially inactive at 100 or 316 mg/kg in all treatment groups. Breeding adults were sterile for 10 to 25 days after doses of 31.6 mg/kg busulfan, 31.6 mg/kg triethylenemelamine, or 316 mg/kg isopropyl methane sulfonate-all alkylating agents. Adults with regressed testes showed reduced fertility or sterility after treatment with busulfan and triethylenemelamine. These tests indicate that the evaluation of male chemosterilants intended for use on wild avian populations during the period of testicular regression should consist of initial tests on breeding adult quail, followed by tests on adult quail with regressed testes if sterility is noted.