Here is a link to a story about the study. There are some caveats. One possibility seems to be that the pesticides are so effective that they are limiting the insect prey base of the birds. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140709-birds-insects-pesticides-insecticides-neonicotinoids-silent-spring/ [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/u/TvyamNb-BivtNwpvn7Sct0VFDulyAfA9wBcU0gVHVnqC5ghmd01m4jHntFPD4iSng2W7bM5pgzWRDxwWn2o/]<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140709-birds-insects-pesticides-insecticides-neonicotinoids-silent-spring/> Second Silent Spring? Bird Declines Linked to Popular Pesticides A popular class of insecticides has been linked to bird die-offs-a finding that parallels Rachel Carson's concerns back in 1962. Read more...<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140709-birds-insects-pesticides-insecticides-neonicotinoids-silent-spring/> ? Patrick Patrick M. Comins Director of Bird Conservation Audubon Connecticut 185 East Flat Hill Road Southbury, CT 06488 Phone: (203)264-5098 x308 Fax: (203)264-6332 pcomins@audubon.org http://iba.audubon.org/iba/viewState.do?state=US-CT Audubon Connecticut is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AudubonCT Friends of Conte is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Silvio-O-Conte-National-Fish-and-Wildlife-Refuge/121976791147545?v=wall Patrick M. Comins Director of Bird Conservation Audubon Connecticut 185 East Flat Hill Road Southbury, CT 06488 Phone: (203)264-5098 x308 Fax: (203)264-6332 pcomins@audubon.org http://iba.audubon.org/iba/viewState.do?state=US-CT Audubon Connecticut is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AudubonCT Friends of Conte is on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Silvio-O-Conte-National-Fish-and-Wildlife-Refuge/121976791147545?v=wall