Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Wednesday, January 16, 2002
CONTACT: William Cooke, Director of Government Relations
PHONE: (518) 869-9731

LAWN PESTICIDES IMPLICATED IN BIRD DEATHS

ALBANY, NY - Based on actual necropsies and extrapolating data to the larger number of bird deaths reported, New York State's Wildlife Pathology unit revealed that in the year 2001, thousands of bird deaths were attributed to the aesthetic use of lawn pesticides.

"Birds dying on lawns from pesticides are a strong warning of the potential risks these chemicals pose to people and pets," stated nationally renowned wildlife pathologist, Ward Stone. "As a wildlife pathologist, I see first hand the carnage caused by the unnecessary use of lawn and garden pesticides."

Over the past two summers 1-(866)-537-BIRD, a toll-free bird reporting hotline, was provided for New York State residents to report bird deaths. This hotline drastically increased the number of dead birds reported statewide. This year Audubon New York and Citizens Campaign for the Environment will urge the New York state government to continue the toll-free hotline.

"If all these birds are dying from aesthetic lawn pesticides, what impact are the lawn pesticides having on our children?" asked William Cooke, director of government relations for Audubon New York.

"The evidence continues to mount that pesticides are having devastating impacts to the ecology and natural environment of New York State," said Robert Foster, legislative director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. "The need to reduce the use of toxic pesticides is becoming more obvious."

"If you don't do it for the birds, I ask you to do it for yourselves and for your children," reiterated Cooke. The deaths of birds serve as a warning that lawn care pesticides are dangerous.

For further information contact William Cooke at (518) 869-9731. Audubon New York is a statewide program of the National Audubon Society.

-30-

Also, please see the following related pages:

What you should know about pesticides...(Please click here for the Pesticides section of the Audubon New York website.)

Back to Media Releases ~ Back to Audubon New York Home Page