Sixty percent of Europe's bird species live on farmland. Insecticides are killing invertebrates (insects, beetles, spiders) - an important source of food for chicks. Herbicides remove arable weed seed - a food source of particular importance in the winter months. Herbicides also reduce invertebrate populations by removing host plants. Close temporal associations between onset of decline and pesticide use exist for Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos, House Sparrow Passer domesticus, Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, Skylark Alauda arvensis, Linnet Carduelis cannabina, Swallow Hirundinidae, Blackbird Turdus merula, and Starling Sturnus vulgaris.
Read Dr. Sue Armstrong Brown's presentation :
http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/uploadedfiles/Web_Assets/Pesticides_Forum/…
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