Over the years a variety of poisons have been used to eradicate pests such as pigeons, seagulls, as well as other nuisance type birds and rodents, causing severe health risks to humans and damaging our environment and wildlife in whatever area used.
Despite the ban on notorious insecticides such as DDT and the passage of laws to regulate pesticide production and use, birds still suffer from pesticide exposure in this country. Each year, approximately 672 million birds are directly exposed to pesticides on farmlands in the United States. Of these about 10 percent, or 67 million birds, are estimated to die immediately as a result. This figure does not include birds that perish after a period of illness, that die after feeding on poisoned insects, rodents, other prey, or losses due to failed reproduction (eggs left unhatched or nestlings left to starve). The impact on birds from pesticide use in areas other than farmlands is unknown.