Do forests "fall silent" after 1080 drops?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-02-05 03:00

New Zealand

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Scientists have listened to the sound of the forest to find out whether 1080 drops have an impact on bird calls due to by-kill. They recorded birdsong for 5-8 weeks before and after three separate 1080 drops in the Aorangi and Remutaka Ranges of the lower North Island, finding the drops had no effect on most birds' singing. However, they heard fewer calls from the chaffinch and tomtit, which they say could be due to random chance, or could mean the birds are eating 1080 pellets. The authors recommend more precautionary research into the effect of 1080 drops on tomtits.