Mid-term effects of exposure to fungicide-treated seeds in feral rock pigeons ("Columba livia")

Resum

The feeding response of feral rock pigeons (Columba livia) to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) seed treated with the fungicide «Maneb» (manganese ethylene-bisdithiocarbamate) was assessed under aviary conditions. Bird preferences for dry or moist seed were also recorded. In all cases, non-treated (49.14 g bird¿1 day¿1) rather than treated seed (32.97 g bird¿1 day¿1) was selected, and wheat rather than barley (48.16 compared to 33.95 g bird¿1 day¿1 respectively). Dry seed was consumed in preference to moist seed (47.53 g bird¿1 day¿1 compared to 15.08 g bird¿1 day¿1) ¿ a preference noted both when treated and non-treated seed was consumed. The birds fed exclusively on treated seed showed a reduction in body weight; no significant differences were recorded in those fed either untreated or mixed seed. Water consumption was three times greater in pigeons fed exclusively on treated seed.