Recent Avian Poisonings Suggest a Secondary Poisoning Crisis of Black Kites During the 1980s in Taiwan

A pesticide banned in the European Union over a decade ago is still present in raptors in Poland

“…Literature referring to low, sub-lethal doses of pesticides in birds is rare (e.g., Eason & Spurr 1995, Butler 2014, Hamidipoor et al 2015, whereas the tendency to describe cases of fatal poisoning dominates (e.g., Muzinic 2007, Hong et al 2018. Interpretation of low pesticide concentrations in some individuals in the present study may suggest a certain often-overlooked issue.…”

“…The frequencies of individuals whose liver tissues contained carbofuran shown in the present study (white-tailed eagles, 33%; buzzards, 54%) correspond to the high rates reported in other studies. For example, Hong et al (2018) detected carbofuran in 57% of samples derived from the Taiwan black kite (Milvus migrans). Toxicological analyses of 17 poisoned endangered Eurasian griffons (Gyps fulvus) in Croatia showed the presence of carbofuran in the livers of 15 birds (88%; Muzinic 2007).…”

“…Other important issues are the concentrations of prohibited pesticides detected in indicator species and the knowledge of the metabolism of the analysed substances. Liver sampling is sufficient for the reliable detection of pesticides (e.g., Martínez-Haro et al 2008, Thomas et al 2011, Hong et al 2018). An unquestionable advantage of the liver data is their ability to reflect the current exposure in bird habitats (Becker 2003, Garcia-Fernandez et al 2008, Hong et al 2018.…”

“…Liver sampling is sufficient for the reliable detection of pesticides (e.g., Martínez-Haro et al 2008, Thomas et al 2011, Hong et al 2018). An unquestionable advantage of the liver data is their ability to reflect the current exposure in bird habitats (Becker 2003, Garcia-Fernandez et al 2008, Hong et al 2018. However, the liver has the ability to metabolize carbofuran, and the absence of this pesticide in the liver might be related to its rapid biotransformation (De Lavaur et al 1991, Lehel et al 2010.…”

“…However, the liver has the ability to metabolize carbofuran, and the absence of this pesticide in the liver might be related to its rapid biotransformation (De Lavaur et al 1991, Lehel et al 2010. Hence, some researchers examining pesticide poisoning analyse the contents of crops (Elliott et al 1996, Molenaar et al 2017, Richards et al 2017, alimentary tracts (Augspurger et al 1996, Wobeser et al 2004 or stomachs (Tennakoon et al 2009, Hong et al 2018.…”