Independent scientific reviews

and official documents on 1080

Do native birds get killed by 1080? – Read the Science

Yes
Bird repellents on bait and rules preventing “chaff” (small pieces) intended to protect birds are not effective

date	authors	source	name	quote
2016	Cowan, P., Booth, L., Crowell, M.	NZ J Ecol. 40(1): 29-41	Repellents with potential to protect kea and other native birds from aerial poisoning for possum and rat control	“Of the 19 species of native birds found dead after 1080 possum control operations (Spurr 2000), eleven have been recorded after operations using cereal pellets (Veltman & Westbrooke 2011; Fairweather et al. 2014), ranging in adult body weight from 11g (tomtit, P. macrocephala) to 2-3kg (kiwi, Apteryx spp.). Even with the inclusion of repellents, smaller birds will probably remain at greater risk of poisoning, because they need to eat much less bait to be killed and they may access bait both by pecking at large pellets and by feeding on small pieces resulting from bait fragmentation during aerial delivery (Nugent et al. 2011) or from waste from feeding by target species…individual repellents or repellent combinations will need to be highly effective to protect smaller native species.”
2016	Cowan, P., Booth, L., Crowell, M.	NZ J Ecol. 40(1): 29-41	Repellents with potential to protect kea and other native birds from aerial poisoning for possum and rat control	“Concern about non-target risks to native birds, particularly kea (Nestor notabilis), from aerial poisoning has prompted the evaluation of potential repellent compounds that could be incorporated into the cereal pellet bait used for possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and rat (Rattus spp.) control. Initial trials of d-pulegone and anthraquinone were not wholly successful, with the former having poor stability in bait and the latter reducing bait uptake by rats.”
2015	Shaw, I.	The Press, March 13 2015	How toxic is 1080? Toxicologist explains (Professor Ian Shaw, University of Canterbury)	“1080 could spell death to any cell it enters. It does not discriminate between cells or target animal. Providing the cell has the citric acid cycle it is doomed. So if anyone tells you that 1080 can discriminate between pests and native animals they are talking complete and utter rubbish.”
2014	Clapperton, B.K., Morgan, D.K.J., Day, T.D., Oates, K.E., Beath, A.M., Cox, N.R. & Matthews, L.R.	NZ Journal of Ecology 38(1): 116-123	Efficacy of bird repellents at deterring North Island robins (Petroica australis longipes) and tomtits (P. macrocephala toitoi) from baits	“robins will readily peck at cinnamon-flavoured, green carrot or cereal baits (Spurr & Powlesland 1997; Day 2003).”
2013	Masuda, B.M. & Jamieson, I.G.	NZ Journal of Ecology 37(2): 224-231	Response of a reintroduced bird population to a rat reinvasion and eradication	“Previous studies have examined the potential to use colour, repellents and combinations of visual and olfactory cues with repellents to deter robins and other birds from feeding on cereal bait (Hartley et al 1999; Day et al. 2003; Clapperton et al. 2012). Our observations suggest that further research is still required to deter birds such as robins from consuming poison bait”
2011	Eason, C., Miller, A., Ogilvie, S. & Fairweather, A.	NZ Journal of Ecology 35(1): 1-20	An updated review of the toxicology and ecotoxicology of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) in relation to its use as a pest control tool in New Zealand	it was discovered that a number of birds from a range of species were dying during control operations in which non-dyed, raspberry-lured carrot bait that had a high percentage of small fragments (‘chaff’) was being used (Harrison 1978). This led to significant changes in baits, with carrot baits being screened to remove small fragments, raspberry lure being banned, baits being dyed green, and cinnamon oil added as a deterrent”
2014	Clapperton, B.K., Morgan, D.K.J., Day, T.D., Oates, K.E., Beath, A.M., Cox, N.R. & Matthews, L.R.	NZ Journal of Ecology 38(1): 116-123	Efficacy of bird repellents at deterring North Island robins (Petroica australis longipes) and tomtits (P. macrocephala toitoi) from baits	“The North Island robin…and the North Island tomtit… Because they often feed on the ground (Powlesland 1981), both species are particularly at risk of poisoning (Spurr & Powlesland 1997; Knegtmans & Powlesland 1999; Powlesland et al. 1999, 2000), especially if there are small fragments of toxic bait chaff (Spurr 2000).”
2013	Fisher, P.	Landcare Research Envirolink Advice Grant 1250-MLDC82	Non-target risks of using 1080 and pindone for rabbit control.	“current manufacturing and distribution practices can still produce large numbers of small carrot fragments”
2011	Nugent, G., Morgan, D., Clayton, R., Warburton, B.	International Journal of Pest Management 57(1): 51-59	Improving the efficacy of aerial poisoning of brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) through reduced fragmentation of bait	“Almost a quarter of the [cereal] baits collected from under the Hughes 500 (Figure 1B) and half those under the Iroquois (Figure 1C) weighed less than 2g, with most bait in this category being less than 1g.”
2007	Animal Health Board	AHB Annual Research Report 2006-2007 P 39	New Control Tools, Methods of Application & Monitoring	“when cereal bait absorbs moisture and softens (particularly in rainy conditions), observations from this study indicate that birds are capable of eating much larger amounts of bait. Contrastingly, birds were able to initially eat more carrot bait, and were also able to fly away with it, because of the softer texture of this bait type.”
1979	Spurr E.B.	NZ Journal of Ecology 2: 46:63	A Theoretical Assessment of the Ability of Bird Species to Recover from an Imposed Reduction in Numbers, with Particular Reference to 1080 Poisoning	“Table 1…Native land bird species found dead in areas poisoned with 1080…Australian harrier, weka, pukeko, kaka, kea, morepork, rifleman, N.Z. Pipit, brown creeper, whitehead, grey warbler, fantail, tit, robin, silvereye”
1979	Spurr E.B.	NZ Journal of Ecology 2: 46:63	A Theoretical Assessment of the Ability of Bird Species to Recover from an Imposed Reduction in Numbers, with Particular Reference to 1080 Poisoning	“Several so-called insectivorous species have been found dead after poison operations (Table 1), so they must have eaten either poisoned insects or baits, In support of the former, many insects and slugs have been found on both carrot and pollard-based baits (Batcheler, 1978) and it is known that insects generally are very sensitive to 1080 (Chenoweth, 1949).”
1979	Spurr E.B.	NZ Journal of Ecology 2: 46:63	A Theoretical Assessment of the Ability of Bird Species to Recover from an Imposed Reduction in Numbers, with Particular Reference to 1080 Poisoning	“it is known that relatively small pieces of carrot absorb a higher concentration of 1080 than larger pieces (Staples, 1969). Thus, most of the small insectivorous birds probably require only a tiny fragment of a bait (less than 0.1 g; perhaps one mouthful) to receive a lethal dose of 1080.”
1979	Spurr E.B.	NZ Journal of Ecology 2: 46:63	A Theoretical Assessment of the Ability of Bird Species to Recover from an Imposed Reduction in Numbers, with Particular Reference to 1080 Poisoning	“The predominantly insectivorous species might feed on poisoned baits, particularly the small fragments or “chaff”, from either the ground or, more probably, up in the leaves and branches. The propensity to take baits is probably increased by poisoning in winter when food, particularly insect life, is likely to be in short supply.”
1979	Spurr E.B.	NZ Journal of Ecology 2: 46:63	A Theoretical Assessment of the Ability of Bird Species to Recover from an Imposed Reduction in Numbers, with Particular Reference to 1080 Poisoning	“reduced populations [of birds following poisoning] risk suffering further reductions from additional causes, such as bad weather… increased predator pressure… or another poison operation. Nevertheless, the slower the rate of increase the longer is the period for which numbers are reduced, and the longer is the period for which the population is at risk”
1978	Batcheler, C.L.	NZ Forest Service – Report to Minister of Fisheries and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries	Compound 1080. Its properties, effectiveness, dangers, and use	“Yellow-breasted tits appeared to be exterminated and brown creeper numbers were reduced by about 70%”
1978	Rammell, E.G., Fleming, P.A.	Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Report	Compound 1080. Properties and use of sodium monofluoroacetate in New Zealand	“it is clear that a wide variety of small birds commonly found in New Zealand’s forests and bush are susceptible to 1080 poisoning.”
2012	van Klink, P., Kemp, J & O’Donnell, C.F.J.	NZ Journal of Zoology 1:1-9	The effect of aerial application of 1080 cereal baits on radio-tagged South Island fernbirds (Bowdleria punctata punctata)	“During monitoring, five fernbirds dropped their transmitters, one was killed by a predator and three died of 1080 poisoning”
2007	Environmental Risk Management Authority	Annual Report on the Aerial use of 1080 For the year ended December, 2007		In the Franz Joseph Glacier operation, six kea (of seventeen monitored) were poisoned. A subsequent study is planned to establish the level of risk to New Zealand kea population from 1080 operations and options for risk mitigation. This monitoring is part of a long-term study so any substantive update will not be available for several years.”
2011	Environmental Protection Authority	Annual Report on the Aerial Use of 1080 for the year ended 31 December 2011		“An experiment in Westland provided very strong support for the notion that kea nest survival is boosted by aerial 1080 predator control in those forests, but the boost was not sufficient after one year to compensate for the bykill that occurred there.”
2011	Eason, C., Miller, A., Ogilvie, S. & Fairweather, A.	NZ Journal of Ecology 35(1): 1-20	An updated review of the toxicology and ecotoxicology of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) in relation to its use as a pest control tool in New Zealand	“threatened species usually have a limited ability to recover from additional mortality, making the consequences of potential losses from poisoning of more concern…During monitoring, one of 40 weka (Gallirallus australis) died, and four of 23 fernbirds (Bowdleria punctata) disappeared…Recent monitoring of kea (Nestor notabilis) suggests that some populations may be affected by aerial 1080 operations.”
2015	Urlich, S.C.	NZ J Ecol. 39: 133-142	What’s the end-game for biodiversity: is it time for conservation evolution?	“Low levels of genetic diversity within many threatened endemic forest bird populations may also reduce the ability to evolve adaptive behaviours (Jamieson et al, 2009)
2015	Elliot, G.	Unpublished report. Released under the Official Information Act	Rock Wren and 1080 in Kahurangi National Park	“A 1080 operation was undertaken over the forest and tops in parts of Kahurangi National Park on 8 November 2014…The rock wren results initially looked very disappointing with 22 of 49 birds disappearing soon after the 1080 operation. The disappearance of these birds was coincident not only with the 1080 operation, but also with an unseasonable snow storm, and snow cover that subsequently lasted two weeks. We don’t know for certain whether these birds were killed by 1080 but it seems likely that at least some of them were.”
2011	Eason, C., Miller, A., Ogilvie, S. & Fairweather, A.	An updated review of the toxicology and ecotoxicology of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) in relation to its use as a pest control tool in New Zealand	NZ Journal of Ecology 35(1): 1-20	“Baiting practice has continued to evolve (Morgan 1994, 2004; Morgan et al. 1997) and now routinely includes prefeeding (Warburton et al. 2009), raising the possibility it could similarly affect bird behaviour and increase the poisoning risk to birds (Veltman & Westbrooke 2011).”
1979	Spurr E.B.	NZ Journal of Ecology 2: 46:63	A Theoretical Assessment of the Ability of Bird Species to Recover from an Imposed Reduction in Numbers, with Particular Reference to 1080 Poisoning	“The likely extent of any reduction in numbers is difficult to predict. There is some evidence (e.g., Tinbergen, 1960; Pyke, Pulliam and Chamov, 1977) that the selection of food items by birds is affected by the abundance of the items in the environment. With as many as 100 000 carrot baits or bait fragments per hectare (Batcheler, 1978) birds should have sufficient opportunity to find them”
2007	ERMA Agency Appendix F	P 484	Environmental Risk Management Authority Reassessment of 1080	“it is evident..that carrot bait may [have] inaccurate toxic loading, poor dye coverage..poor screening to remove chaff..the Agency does not have sufficient information to determine how frequently these problems..occur and what impacts they..have [on] pest control or on non-target species.”
2007	ERMA Agency Appendix N	P 723	Environmental Risk Management Authority Reassessment of 1080	“The Agency considers that further trials with bird repellent may be warranted given the problems with trials to date, that include lack of replication, issues with monitoring possum indices after the trials and less-than-toxic loading on the carrot”
2007	Committee Decision	P 64	Environmental Risk Management Authority Reassessment of 1080	“The Committee has amended the control on the use of carrot bait to ensure that it is screened to remove small pieces”
2007	Committee Decision Appendix B	P 195	Environmental Risk Management Authority Reassessment of 1080	“Compliance with best practice for preparation and distribution of bait minimises risks [to native birds]”
2013	Fisher, P.	Landcare Research Envirolink Advice Grant 1250-MLDC82	Non-target risks of using 1080 and pindone for rabbit control.	“the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) currently stipulates that the average size of the carrot pieces used for rabbit baiting after screening must be >6 g with <1.5% chaff (ERMA 2007)"
2013	Fisher, P.	Landcare Research Envirolink Advice Grant 1250-MLDC82	Non-target risks of using 1080 and pindone for rabbit control.	“Monitoring of bait during two rabbit-control operations in 2010 showed the mean weight of screened diced carrot pieces after aerial sowing ranged from <0.5 g to 13.2 g, with 32 -55% (by number) of the bait pieces <1 g, so that the mean weight was only 1.7 - 2.5 g. Fewer than 17% of the number of bait pieces were in the 4 - 6 g range."
2013	Fisher, P.	Landcare Research Envirolink Advice Grant 1250-MLDC82	Non-target risks of using 1080 and pindone for rabbit control.	“The concentration of 1080 within individual carrot pieces also varies widely”

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