Avicide

An avicide is any substance (normally, a chemical) which can be used to kill birds.

Birds of prey are the most affected because they are at the end of the food chain and toxins accumulate.

Commonly used avicides include strychnine, DRC-1339 (3-chloro-4-methylaniline hydrochloride, Starlicide) and CPTH (3-chloro-p-toluidine, the free base of Starlicide), and Avitrol (4-aminopyridine). Chloralose is also used as an avicide. In the past, highly concentrated formulations of parathion in diesel oil were also used, applied by aircraft spraying over the nesting colonies of the birds. It is impossible to minimize risk from avicides for non-targets species. Avicides are banned in many countries because of ecological concern. Their ecological impact is poorly studied. But, they are still used in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Practice is criticized by both animal rightists and ones, who control birds with other means, such as shooters and trappers. Illegal bird killing with poison is common, for example, pigeon fanciers use it to deal with problem birds of prey, even in countries (for example, Russia and Ukraine), where avicides are illegal. [1]