Bald Eagle

In 1948, Dr. Paul Mueller, a Swiss entomologist received the Nobel Prize in medicine for what the world believed was the miracle cure in pest control. In 1939, Dr. Mueller discovered Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT), as a long-lasting pesticide against the clothes moth. In trial DDT proved to be very effective against mosquitoes and flies.

Farmers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture began spraying DDT throughout the United States in an effort to control gypsy moths; fire ants; malaria carrying mosquitoes; and other agricultural pests. In the Eastern United States several millions of acres were sprayed with DDT resulting in a significant loss of song birds the following spring.

In the early 1960Õs the significant decline of birds got notice. Fewer and fewer birds seemed to be hatching throughout the United States and Europe. In 1963, Derek Ratcliffe, published a study titled "The Status of the Peregrine Falcon in Great Britain." The study suggested DDT as a cause of thin shelled-eggs and nesting failure. Upon release of the study to the United States, J.J. Hickey, initiated research into the nests of America. Further research of the thin-shelled and infertile eggs of Peregrines, Bald Eagles, and Ospreys determined that DDT was in fact the primary cause of this tragedy.

High concentrations of DDT had been found in fatty tissues of several species, highest in those who were at the top of the food chain. Birds of prey are considered to be one of the highest in their chain, consuming fish contaminated by DDT in the water that have also eaten contaminated algae and microorganisms; thus Birds of Prey were one of the hardest hit animals of DDT.

In 1973, after extensive research and documentation the Environmental Protection Agency banned use of DDT in the United States. However over the previous thirty years more than 1 billion kilograms of DDT had been spread throughout the United States. Canada also banned the use of DDT and the effects of DDT started to decline in North America. However DDT is still noticeable in the environment today, some twenty-five years later. Unfortunately DDT is still in use today in southern countries, and migratory birds are affected by its use. These birds, often song birds become food for birds of prey and still have negative affects on the birds of prey. The use of harmful pesticides in North America still exists. Dicofol, which is found in Kelthane, contains DDT, this pesticide is used today in North America.

The only way to reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides is more production of and a higher demand for organic foods. Who would have thought 57 years ago the winner of the Nobel Prize would have had such a negative impact on the world.

California Condor

Wedge Tailed Eagle

Links:

http://www.eagles.org/moreabout.html More info on Bald Eagles

http://www.peregrinefund.org/BofPSong.html Importance of birds of prey

http://www.buteo.com Additional information on birds of prey

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