Exposure of California quail to organophosphorus insecticides in apple orchards in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

We studied the exposure and effect of the organophosphate insecticides azinphos-methyl and diazinon on adult California quail (Callipepla californica) in an apple orchard in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. Cholinesterase activity was measured in plasma samples (n = 65) collected from 54 individuals either prior to spraying, immediately (< 24 hours) or 10 days after three spray events. Mean plasma cholinesterase levels declined significantly (P < 0.05, n = 12) to 61% of pre-spray mean activity (controls) immediately following the first spray event, but by ten days had recovered to 86% of mean control activity. Subsequent spray events caused no significant declines in mean plasma cholinesterase activity. Four of the 26 quail sampled within 24 h of a spray event exhibited plasma-ChE inhibition exceeding 50% inhibition. Radio-tagged quail (n = 25) were monitored throughout the breeding season to determine use of orchards and detect changes in use patterns resulting from the spraying of insecticides. Use of orchards by quail varied over the summer, with the highest use occurring in May, declining to very low use by July. Quail exhibited a diurnal pattern, roosting in sparsely forested uplands at night, travelling to orchard areas to feed early each morning and returning to roosts at dusk. Orchard use by quail differed during spray events compared to non-spray times. During the three hour period immediately after spraying (0530-0800), 14-20% of observed quail were in the orchard, after which use declined to < 4%, and returned to 12% by the next day. During non-spray times, 3-13% of radio-tagged the quail were observed in orchard habitat, with the heaviest use (13%) occurring later in the day (0830-1700 h). Seven radio-tagged quail were predated during the study period. However, no deaths could be attributed to insecticide poisoning as carcasses were not in suitable condition for testing. It was concluded that adult quail using orchard habitat early in the summer may be acutely poisoned by anti-cholinesterase insecticides, but the risk of exposure declined over the summer.