French farmland birds are facing significant decline due to the spread of neonicotinoid pesticides, which have decimated insect life in the idyllic countryside, according to two studies. The first study, published on Monday by a team from France’s National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), found that between 2007 and 2012, more than half of all bird species were affected by pesticides used against The affected birds include skylarks, whitethroats, ortolan bunting, meadow pipits, partridges, in addition to some generalist species such as wood pigeon, blackbirds and chaffinches.
French farmland birds are facing significant decline due to the spread of neonicotinoid pesticides, which have decimated insect life in the idyllic countryside, according to two studies. The intensive crop production promoted by the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) is contributing to another "silent spring" in several European countries whereby on average 1/3 of the farmland bird population has decreased in the past 15 years. The affected birds include skylarks, whitethroats, ortolan bunting, meadow pipits, partridges, in addition to some generalist species such as wood pigeon, blackbirds and chaffinches.