Flickinger, E. L., White, D. H., Mitchell, C. A. , and Lamont, T. G., 1984,
Monocrotophos and dicrotophos residues in birds as a result of misuse of
organophosphates in Matagorda county Texas USA: Journal of the Association of
Official Analytical Chemists, v. 67 , no. 4, p. 827-828.

Abstract:

About 1100 birds of 12 spp. [Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus),
great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus
ater), mourning dove (Zenaida macrours), Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna),
vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus), common snipe (Gallinago gallinago),
blue-winged teal (Anas discors), mottled duck (Anas fulvigula), common moorhen
(Gallinula chloropus), redhead (Aythya americana) and ruddy turnstone (Arenaria
interpres)] died from organophosphate poisoning in Matagorda County on the Texas
Gulf Coast in March and May 1982. Birds died from feeding on rice seed that was
illegally treated with dicrotophos or monocrotophos and placed near rice fields as
bait to attract and kill birds. Brain acetylcholinesterase inhibition of affected birds
averaged 87% (range 82-89%), and contents of gastrointestinal tracts contained
residues of dicrotophos (5.6-14 ppm) or monocrotophos (2.1-13 ppm). Rice seed
collected at mortality sites contained 210 ppm dicrotophos or 950 ppm
monocrotophos. Mortality from dicrotophos poisoning continued for almost 3 wk.
The practice of illegally treating rice seed with either of the 2 organophosphates
appears to be infrequent but widespread at present.

Keywords:

Agelaius-phoeniceus, Quiscalus-mexicanus, Molothrus-ater, Zenaida-macroura,
Arenaria-interpres, Sturnella-magna, Gallinula-chloropus, Pooecetes-gramineus,
Gallinago-gallinago, Anas-discors, Aythya-americana, Anas-fulvigula, Turnstone,
Moorhen Blackbird, Grackle Cowbird, Mourning Dove, meadowlark, sparrow,
snipe, teal, duck, redhead, brain, acetylcholinesterase, inhibition, gastrointestinal
tract, rice poisoning bait, mortality