Birds Whether it’s the Australian Ibis bird or the American Crow, birds are often viewed as pest animals. Birds are killed by hunters or in extermination programs involving poisoning  and/or gassing.  The “justification” for slaughter is the bird’s natural predation on factory-farmed animals and crops. A sample of bird species that often face eradication due to predation are: Pelicans and cormorants (catfish farms predation) Vultures (factory farmed animal predation) Blackbirds, cowbirds, crows, ducks, doves, geese, grackles, and quail (crop predation)

In other situations, bird exterminations are the result of policies that show zero-tolerance for wildlife such as in the cases of sea gulls, starlings, sparrows, and pigeons.

Another Form Of Pet Overpulation
The delicate, emerald-colored Monk parakeets, so popular and affectionate as caged pets in many homes, are considered pests in their native South America because of crop predation. Monk parakeets can live up to 35 years of age. Intelligent and adaptive, these beautiful birds are often abandoned as pets in the US. As a  result, the tropical Monk Parakeet has established habitats in New England, New York, Florida, Texas and other areas. It is their nest building habits that have become a problem. Up to 150 birds can create a communal nest so large that its weight can exceed hundreds of pounds. The birds weave their nests around electrical wires and cell towers threatening power and communications. Historically, utility companies have exterminated the parakeets. However, due to public outcry and awareness,  Florida Power and Light is funding research with Diazacon in an effort to use contraception for humanely controlling Monk Parakeet populations.

Bird Contraceptives: Diazacon And Nicarbazin
Diazacon is a biochemical that inhibits the production of reproductive hormones. This drug was originally developed for humans because it reduces cholesterol levels. However, its usage was stopped due to damaging side effects. Now marketed under the names DiazaCon™, it has been commercially approved for reducing pigeon populations. It has been or is currently being tested with crows, quail, doves, cowbirds, mallards, monk parakeets, and sparrows.

Unfortunately, it does have negative side effects including listlessness, weight loss, difficulty breathing, loss of muscle control and even death. The use of DiazaCon™ is limited to birds that have a specific breeding season because it requires repeated sequential dosing.

Nicarbazin offers another way to humanely limit Canada geese and other bird species. Nicarbazin was a drug traditionally used to treat a zoonotic (transmissible to humans and other animals) intestinal parasite called coccidia that is prevalent in factory farmed broiler chickens. Nicarbazin does not stop reproduction in terms of egg-laying but it does destroy the embryo in the egg by disrupting the shell’s yolk membrane. Effective and safe, nicarbazin is now registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the trade name OvoControl-G® as a reproductive inhibitor for use in Canada geese. In studies of egg “hatchability” with both geese and ducks (mallards) a reduction in the number of eggs hatched consistently exceeded 50% using OvoControl-G®. Unlike DiazaCon™, OvoControl-G® does not appear to have damaging side effects to birds.

Advocate for the Use of Humane Bird Population Control!