Hello everyone,
The Cornell Lab Of Ornithology has an article on it’s website, All About Birds,
explaining what could be causing the decline in numbers of The Northern
Harrier. This information, in my view, could also apply to all raptors that
feed on rodents inhabiting pasture lands in the United States, Canada and other
parts of the world where pesticides are used to kill insects, field voles and
mice that Short-eared Owls and Harriers feed on.
In my research from other sources I also learned about the use of dangerous
systemic Neonicotinoid Pesticides used to permeate crop grain seeds. The
neurotoxin in these pesticides are so powerful that even water drops from
plants treated with them can kill insects. Rodents also feed on such grain
crops such as soybeans, corn and wheat. Raptors such as Red-tailed Hawks,
American Kestrels, Short-eared Owls, and Northern Harriers feed on the rodents
that may have consumed such pesticide laden grains. What’s killing them is also
killing us!
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/lifehistory#at_consv
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/study-strengthens-link-between-neonicotinoids-and-collapse-of-honey-bee-colonies/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid
Otis Sowell, Jr.
Palmyra, Virginia
www.otissowellphotography.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/otissowell/
