One of the
neonicitinoid seed-treatment pesticides might be the reason why the hummingbird
population is declining.
A research
scientist in British Columbia has found up to three parts per billion of
neonicitinoid residues in the urine and feces of hummingbirds she collected in
the Fraser Valley farming area of British Columbia.
Christine
Bishop with Environment and Climate Change Canada said researchers started
looking at a variety of factors that may be responsible for the population decline, ranging from habitat
loss to changes when plants bloom.
At this
stage, she said it’s not certain that imidacloprid, commonly used to treat corn
seed, is responsible for the population decline because it could be a
combination of other factors.
But her
findings have been turned over to the Pest Management Review Agency in Health
Canada to form part of its deliberations over whether to renew, ban or curb the
use of neonicitinoids. The review document is due to be completed next year.
