SURVIVAL OF GREAT TIT (PARUS-MAJOR) NESTLINGS IN HEDGEROWS EXPOSED TO A FUNGICIDE AND AN INSECTICIDE - A FIELD EXPERIMENT

Field experiments tested the effects of a fungicide and an insecticide on the survival of nestlings of the great tit Parus major, hatched in hedgerows which were sprayed directly with Pesticides. The fungicide 'Tilt Turbo' (propiconazole 125 g a.i. ha-1 + tridemorph 350 g a.i. ha-1) had no effect on parental foraging distances and foraging heights, feeding frequency of nestlings, survival of nestlings, fledging age, and abundance of arthropods. The insecticide 'Cymbush' (cypermethrin 23 g a.i. ha-1) caused lower gains in fledging weight than in those from unsprayed hedgerows. The significantly reduced number of arthropods in hedgerows exposed to the insecticide, strongly suggested the causal relationship. However, this was not supported by examination of feeding frequencies and survival rates. The influence of pyrethroid insecticides on the avifauna breeding in hedgerows is discussed.