When it comes to caring for wild birds, the type of bird seed you choose can have a significant impact on their health. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in conventional bird seed can be hazardous to wildlife, while organic bird seed is grown in accordance with organic standards and is free of these toxic chemicals, providing a much safer food source for wild birds.
In recent years, researchers and environmental organizations have increasingly raised awareness around the impact that synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides – such as neonicotinoids – can have on public health, wildlife and their ecosystems. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can be extremely damaging to wild birds, particularly songbirds. Studies have shown that the use of these chemicals can lead to an increase in mortality rates among songbird populations, especially during nesting season. This is due to the fact that the chemicals can leach into the environment, contaminating the soil and water sources that the birds rely on.
In addition, the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides can also lead to a decrease in the number of insect prey available for the birds. This is because the chemicals can kill off beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, that the birds rely on for food. Furthermore, the synthetic chemicals can also contaminate the insects and other prey that the birds consume, leading to serious health problems.
Neonicotinoids are one of the most widely used synthetic insecticides in the world. They are systemic pesticides which means that when applied to soil or foliage, they become absorbed by plants and become present throughout all parts of it – including in its fruit/seeds – making them potentially hazardous to humans if ingested. Neonicotinoids are highly toxic to birds and other wildlife: studies show that these chemicals can cause physiological disruption even at very low levels of exposure and can lead to long-term effects such as reproductive issues, increased susceptibility to disease or death. Furthermore, researchers found a direct correlation between increases in neonicotinoid use in industrialized countries over the last two decades and declines in songbird populations over the same period of time.
This has led many countries – including Canada – to implement policies that restrict neonicotinoid use significantly. Canada also established a ban preventing any new uses of existing agricultural neonicotinoids from being approved as well as regulating any other uses for non-agricultural purposes (such as ornamental gardening).
Organic bird seed is now becoming more popular than ever before because it does not contain synthetic artificial ingredients such as neonicotinoids which could be harmful to birds and other wildlife if ingested. Our organic bird seed at Flying Colors is specifically designed with bird health (and human safety) in mind by not containing hazardous chemical additives which conventional seed may still contain even after regulatory changes were introduced limiting their use for agricultural purposes.By consuming only organic birdseed you’re helping protect yourself from potential pesticide exposures while also supporting healthy biodiversity when feeding your feathered friends!
We need more comprehensive regulations that limit or prohibit industries from using synthetic materials like neonicotinoids; furthermore educating communities about monitoring personal contaminants is essential so they make informed decisions while feeding their birds organic seed which was proven safe for them!
Photo Credit: David Kovalenko (via Unsplash)
