As bird lovers and stewards of our environment, we can use natural remedies to improve the quality of our landscape. Below, a list of alternatives to artificial pesticides:

1. Just say NO to toxic chemicals. Alternatives include manual pest control, biopesticides (pesticides derived naturally from animals, plants, bacteria, and minerals), and organic fertilizers.

2. Maintain healthy soil for healthy lawns. To grow well, your lawn needs soil with good texture, key nutrients, and the right pH. For soil recommendations, contact your county cooperative extension office (see your telephone directory, under county or state governments).

3. Give your lawn a fighting chance. A healthy lawn resists pests more effectively, provides feeding grounds for birds, prevents soil erosion, and filters contaminants. Choose the right grass for your area. Mow often with sharp blades, but allow grass to grow 3"–4" first. Water slowly and deeply but only when the lawn begins to wilt from dryness.

4. Reduce your lawn and go wild. Native plants are more resistant to disease and pests and provide healthier habitats for birds and other wildlife. Besides, a wild yard is more interesting to look at.

5. Treat the source, not the symptom. If pests persist, do your homework and find out what in your yard is causing them to flourish. Then deal with the source.

6. Know your pests. Not all insects are pests—some are quite beneficial in controlling disease. Be sure you have a real insect problem before applying any chemicals. Learn an insect’s life stage to avoid wasteful treatment.

7. Attract more birds. Besides being beautiful to watch, many birds are voracious insect eaters. Provide birdbaths and nest boxes and you’ll attract more insect-eating birds.

8. Encourage neighbors to be environmentally friendly. Pesticides can spread miles from their source, so it is vital to educate others about the risk. Share these suggestions with a neighbor and consider building a wildlife corridor from yard to yard.

9. Consider Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a common- sense approach to pest management incorporating biological, cultural, and chemical methods to control pests with the least amount of disruption to the environment.

10. Pesticides as a last resort. If you do use pesticides, choose them wisely, read the labels carefully, apply them as directed, treat only when necessary, and protect yourself, your pets, and your neighbors from direct exposure.

To learn more about pesticides and their effects on birds, visit these web sites:

The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides
www.audubon.org/bird/pesticide.html

The American Bird Conservancy
www.abcbirds.org/pesticides/pesticideindex.htm

For information on alternatives to pesticides, visit these web sites:

The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP)
www.pesticide.org

The Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety
www.epa.gov/pesticides

Return