Dear Jon and all,
The sad part of this, Jon, is that while the Bowen Shire Council
condemns the perpetrators of this crime, it is now perfectly legal to
use fenthion to kill birds in Victoria. Even though the Victorian
Department of Natural Resources and the Environment has not provided
an approved protocol, nor even issued guidelines as to which
chemicals are recommended, at last count 81 permits, primarily
centred around Horsham, had been given to untrained farmers to use
poisons for bird destruction.
There has been no monitoring of the results of the use of these
poisons, so we have no information regarding their effectiveness in
reducing perceived crop damage nor any indication of the degree of
damage caused to non-target species. This is vital information if a
genuine effort is to be made to find effective, humane means of
reducing economic damage caused by problem birds while at the same
time minimising harm to other wild life or the environment. Other
means apart from broadcast poisoning are available to address the
damage as outlined in the Report on Problems in Victoria caused by
Long-billed Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Galahs, published
by the Parliament of Victoria in 1995. The findings of this committee
catagorically did 'not support the use of poison to kill wildlife'
Protests raised by Birds Australia, the Australian Veterinary
Association, the Association of Avian Veterinarians and the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have, to date,
fallen on deaf ears. Unfortunately the Victorian State government
currently fully supports this outright environmental vandalism.
As we are currently in the middle of a snap election in Victoria I
would urge list members to write or email relevant politicians. The
Minister responsible, Marie Tehan is retiring. Decision makers
associated with this policy include the Premier, Jeff Kennett, and
Patrick Mc Namara, Deputy Premier and Minister for Agriculture and
Resources, email addresses as follows:
or see http://www.jeff.com.au/
The Leader of the Opposition is Steve Bracks
Further snail mail address information can be found at
http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/mlas.html
Kind regards,
Pat
Patricia Macwhirter BVSc, FACVSc (Bird Medicine)
Highbury Veterinary Clinic, 128 Highbury Road, BURWOOD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
Ph: (03) 9808 9011 Fax: (03) 9888 7134
Bowen Independent. Wednesday 11 August 1999.
Council update on bird deaths by Jon Gibbons*
Bowen Shire Council has recently obtained results from the Qld.
National Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to the bird kills in
Collinsville and Scottville.
As reported in the BI previously 4 and 6 August, the chemical fenthion
was responsible.
The results show that the three bird specimens contained 1.9mg,
700mg and 3800mg per kg of fenthion in their stomach and intestine
contents otherwise the birds were in good condition.
Fenthion is a moderately toxic compound with trade names: Bay 29493,
Baycid, Baytex, Dalf, DMTP, Enfex, Lebaycid, Mercaptophos, Prentox
Fenthion 4E, Queletex, S1752, Spotton, Taladox and Tiguvon.
Fenthion is available in dust, emulsified concentrate, liquid
concentrate, spray concentrate ULV and wettable powder formulations.
Fenthion is an organ-phosphate insecticide used to control sucking
and biting pests. It is moderately toxic to animals and highly toxic
to birds.
Based on this high toxicity to birds, fenthion is used in various
parts of the world for weaver bird control. Pest control operators
have used it to control pigeons around public buildings.
In animals and humans fenthion is rapidly absorbed into the blood
stream via the digestive tract, lungs and skin.
In water bodies it can kill fresh water animals such as mussels,
plankton and fish.
Acute symptoms of fenthion poisoning in birds include tearing of the
eyes, foaming salivation, lack of movement, tremors, congestion in
wind pipe, lack of coordination in walking and an abnormally rapid
rate of breathing or difficult breathing.
Also reported in the Bowen Independent were the recent bird deaths
in South africa and Podor attributable to fenthion. More than 6
million birds were killed in these areas within weeks following the
use of Queletox containing an active ingredient fenthion.
While the use of Queletox in these cases had been directed at seed
eating birds causing crop losses to farmers, many ohter non-target
species including herons and cranes have died together with vultures
and other raptor birds which have consumed dead birds.
As can be seen from this information, fenthion can have a dramatic
affect on bird populations.
Council has released this information in the hope that public
knowledge regarding the use of fenthion containing products is
heightened in an effort to prevent more bird deaths.
Users of agricultural chemicals are reminded to read labels
thoroughly before usage and to discard empty chemical containers
carefully. Councils Drummuster collection point is available for
rinsed empty chemical containers. Enquiries may be directed to
council health and environmental services section on 07 4786 0633.
* Jon Gibbons is Bowen Shire Council Director of Health and
Environmental Services.
As far as I am aware the suspect has not been charged to date. These
bird deaths continue, now into its third month. When is enough,
enough?
Jon Wren
PO Box 868
Bowen (Climate Capital of Australia)
Queensland
Australia 4805
Phone 07 4786 2614H
Mobile 0412 789 285 email:
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