I was wondering of someone could tell me whther the products used to kill these grubs are harmful to the birds that eat them. The lawns at the place where I am working had just been sprayed for lawngrubs and in the afternoon a butcherbird was busy shoving as many of the creatures as it could get down it's hungry baby's mouth. ( not that it looks much like a baby !) I was so worried that it might be harming it's little one but was helpless to do anything really.
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sorry missed this one
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Years ago ,when the New Parliament House was opened in Canberra, they decided to spray the lawns to kill grubs.
It resulted in a massive kill of Magpies. Much embarrassment, and questions asked "In the House".
So, depending upon the chemicals used, it could be bad news. Most of those lawn grub killer chemicals are systemics (they have to be to reach the grubs, by way of the poison being carried through the plants to the roots of the roots of the grasses - you cannot use "contact" chemicals effectively on lawn grubs. Therefore it is likely to be bad news, I am afraid.
I suggest you show your photos to the Manager of the Grounds Dept, or whatever, to point out the risk they are running.
Senate Hansard 5 December 1991 - extract.
Senator REID (Australian Capital Territory) —Mr President, could I ask you to make a statement to the Senate this afternoon at some convenient time on the fact that all the magpies have disappeared from this building. Is it true that 37 were found dead? Can you tell the Senate whether or not tests were done to ascertain whether the substance that is being used around this building would in fact be harmful to life or not? Have any ACT regulations or laws been breached by the use a chemical of whatever kind? I ask that an answer be provided at a later time this day.
The PRESIDENT —I have been informed of the quite exaggerated report this morning on the ABC. The head of the Joint House Department was due to go on ABC radio at 10 o'clock. I have no difficulty in complying with Senator Reid's request.
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
I suspected as much Dennis. I am appalled at the amount of things humans do that put our creatures at risk. But I am afraid that there would probably be little joy in bringing the matter up to those who are in the pursuit of money and profit. However I will let them know. I guess that means the little lapwing chicks are in danger too, though they seem to be scratching in the garden beds rather than the lawn areas.
I have a 10 yr old nature lover daughter and I guess the best hope for our planet is education and lots of it for children of her age. She has a strong voice and is passionate about conservation .... but it is only from us that they learn so I'd better make the lessons good huh?
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Best wishes, Birdie.
One needs to be careful in presenting these issues, especially at one's work place. But, as for the raising of the next generation, there is a clear need to give a good example.
Best of luck with all those issues.
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
I was more than happy for my lawn to die & to be replaced with native grasses which attract butterflies, insects & seed-eating birds. Admittedly, lawns are cool in summer but they consume vast amounts of water & are related to the emission of carbon dioxide (not to mention unpleasant noise) from mowers. Rather unAustralian, I would have thought.
Woko,I don't know if it matters to you, what you say is absolutely what I believe in!!To me, lawns aren't worth the ground they grow on!!! LOL They are good for nothing!! (not even the Wombats, that come in at night, they prefere the weeds!) Let's put the lawn to rest!(RIP)
M-L
Araminta and Woko, although I no longer work at his place .... my parents do live there and I am happy to say that in spite of the regular lawn grub sprayings the baby in question remained alive and healthy and the whole family including the next year's babies are still alive and well and running the show in everyone's gardens !!! ( this is a retirement village where the individual gardens are now cared for by the residents . :')
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi all,
I've read your comments with interest. We occasionally use chemicals on our farm to spray large and heavy infestations of red and black headed cockchaefers. This is done by using a chemical registered for the purpose at a low dose rate and allways just before rain. This brings all the grubs to the surface and then there is an almighty feeding frenzy and fights between the hundreds of crows and the ibis as to gets to eat the most. We have NEVER recorded a bird death after spraying. All sprays are bad, but some are necessary.
If there is a bird death(s) after spraying, then get it checked out. Ask if the contractors (the workers - not their bossess) if they hold all hazardous chemical users certificates, find out what spray was used and at what rate. Ask for a copy of the 'spray report' (different names in different states - they probably wont give it to you though) and then go to your local DPI and DSE with the details.
Bird deaths should not occur if everything is done correctly.
Hi mtck,if there is a "bird death(s) after spraying", as you call it, I don't think it works like: Bird eats poison--Bird falls over and is dead ! It would take some time, some slow suffering, and it would die somewhere else. Then get eaten by an other animal, and we wouldn't find out!!??
M-L
Hi Ariminta,
We run beef cattle on a reasonably large size property (for Victoria that is!).
Every day we traverse most of the farm checking everything from cattle to fences to water to wild dogs to.........
Over the 25years l have been here, l have recorded very few bird deaths. Most have been predator attacks (back in May l watched a Collared Sparrowhawk dive into the vege garden and take a Magpie. He promptly flew 20m away from me and started to eat it).
Foxes also take birds - Ibis and Parrots seem to be favourites.
If chemicals were to blame, then l think over time l would have seen unexplained deaths.
I'm not pushing chemicals - quite the reverse. There will always be people who, knowingly or otherwise, abuse the situation causing distress to all and everything.
Hopefully over time, the 'bad' chemicals and the uneducated will begin to realize that less is more and it will lead to a healthier environment for all.