{"id":1800,"date":"2011-01-30T18:47:24","date_gmt":"2011-01-31T01:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2025-10-30T07:30:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T12:30:24","slug":"bye-bye-blackbirds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2011\/01\/30\/bye-bye-blackbirds\/","title":{"rendered":"Bye Bye Blackbirds? The USDA Is Killing Birds With DRC-1339"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bye bye Blackbirds<\/h2>\n

\"Red-wingedRed-winged Blackbird male singing on Sea Oats – Pinellas County, Florida – <\/strong>Nikon D200, handheld,\u00a0f6.3, 1\/640, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

In December of 2010 and January of 2011 the\u00a0national media outlets reported several mass die offs of birds in the United States. On December 31, 2010 over 5000\u00a0blackbirds\u00a0died and fell\u00a0on the town of Beebee, Arkansas. On January 4, 2011 near Labarre, Louisiana 500 blackbirds and starlings were reported dead.<\/p>\n

It was reported that the mass die off in Arkansas was caused by illegal fireworks going off which startled the blackbirds into flying at night, smashing into objects because of their poor night vision.<\/p>\n

The USDA is killing birds with DRC-1339<\/h2>\n

Recently the USDA accepted responsibility for a smaller die off in South Dakota which brought to light a little known program called “Bye bye Blackbird” which uses DRC-1339<\/span><\/a>, a poison that is also called an avicide. I didn’t see this program brought to national attention\u00a0in the evening news.<\/p>\n

\"EuropeanEuropean Starling perched in a bush, Lee Kay Ponds, Salt Lake County, Utah – <\/span>Nikon D200, f5.6, 1\/1000, ISO 400, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4x TC at 260mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Target Species<\/h2>\n

Target species of the “Bye bye Blackbird” USDA Wildlife Services program are blackbirds, starlings, grackles, cowbirds,\u00a0and pigeons.<\/p>\n

A bit\u00a0about European Starlings:<\/em> Few people in North America like European Starlings, my thoughts on that are not to blame the bird but to place the blame where it belongs with the people<\/em> who introduced this species in 1890 – 1891 in New York’s Central Park.<\/p>\n

It only took 60 years for European starlings to make their way from the\u00a0Atlantic coast all the way to the Pacific and a mere 100 birds has now been estimated at over 200 million. They do compete with native species for food and nesting cavities.<\/p>\n

\"Brewer'sBrewer’s Blackbird male singing, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah – <\/span>Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/350, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Of the blackbird target species there are Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Brewer’s Blackbirds, the less common Tricolored Blackbird,\u00a0 and the more rare Rusty Blackbird.<\/p>\n

The depredation order is currently under review because of the impact it may have on the declining population of the Rusty Blackbird.<\/p>\n

\"Brown-headedBrown-headed Cowbird male,\u00a0 Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah – <\/span>Nikon D200, f6.3, 1\/640, ISO 250, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Cowbirds are also targeted by the Bye bye Blackbird program, there are 3 species which can be affected,\u00a0 Brown-headed Cowbirds, Shiny Cowbirds, and Bronzed Cowbirds.<\/p>\n

Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found throughout most of North America while the Shiny and Bronzed Cowbirds are more localized to certain geographical areas.<\/p>\n

\"Great-tailedGreat-tailed Grackle male, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah – <\/span>Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

There are three grackle species that are also targeted by the “Bye bye Blackbird” program, Common Grackles, Boat-tailed Grackles, and Great-tailed Grackles.<\/p>\n

Common Grackles cover the largest geographical area, Great-tailed Grackles are found throughout the southwestern United States, while Boat-tailed Grackles seem to prefer being along the east coast.<\/p>\n

\"Yellow-headedAdult male Yellow-headed Blackbird male singing, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah –\u00a0<\/span> Nikon D200, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Why was\u00a0the USDA Wildlife Services\u00a0“Bye bye Blackbird”\u00a0program started and when did it begin?<\/h2>\n

It began in the 1960’s and became a part of the USDA later. The program was started to aid farmers, dairy farmers, and ranchers in the reduction and removal of\u00a0 avian “pests”. Dairy farmers say that a large flock of starlings or blackbirds can eat 200 pounds of feed a day and that their feces can spoil the feed.<\/p>\n

Through the Wildlife Service there is a “depredation order” which allows anyone kill blackbirds, starlings, or grackles who claims they pose health risks or economic damage. Some areas of the country require permits but farmers are often able to hire private contractors who don’t need to report their bird culls to any<\/em> authority.<\/p>\n

USDA agents killed more than 4 million starlings, blackbirds, grackles and cowbirds in 2009.<\/p>\n

“Every winter, there’s massive and purposeful kills of these blackbirds,” says Greg Butcher, the bird conservation director at the National Audubon Society. “These guys are professionals, and they don’t want to advertise their work. They like to work fast, efficiently, and out of sight.”<\/em><\/p>\n

I have to wonder:<\/p>\n