MORTALITY OF PASSERINES ADJACENT TO A NORTH-CAROLINA CORN FIELD TREATED WITH GRANULAR CARBOFURAN

Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were collected during an e pizootic in southeastern North Carolina (USA). Activity of brain choli nesterase (ChE) was inhibited by 14 to 48% in three of five specimens, and returned to normal levels after incubation. Gastrointestinal trac ts were analyzed for 30 anti-ChE agents. Carbofuran, the only compound detected, was present in all specimens at levels from 5.44 to 72.7 mu g/g wet weight. Application of granular carbofuran in an adjacent cor n field, results of necropsy examinations, and chemical analyses are c onsistent with a diagnosis of carbofuran poisoning in these specimens.