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A Laidback Gardener report published Oct. 4 describes the return of birds of prey to Canadian cities and gardens, following decades of recovery measures after pesticide-related declines. It cites evidence of widespread anticoagulant exposure among examined raptors and says garden pesticide use can affect predators through contaminated prey and reduced food supplies.
A Canadian bird-of-prey population index rose about 35% between 1970 and 2022, according to a report published Oct. 4 by Laidback Gardener, which describes raptors returning to urban areas and garden food webs after past declines. The report also points to research finding anticoagulant exposure in many examined birds of prey, underscoring how pesticide use around homes can affect wildlife beyond its intended target.
The report says birds including Cooper’s hawks, peregrine falcons and owls can now be seen in cities and residential areas. Peregrines may nest on buildings, bridges and towers that resemble cliffs, while hawks can find small birds around feeders and gardens. Rodents and other prey in wooded areas, vacant lots and open spaces can also support raptors.
The recovery followed serious declines in the mid-20th century. The report attributes damage to persistent organochlorine pesticides, especially DDT and its breakdown product DDE. DDE could thin eggshells and reduce breeding success. Peregrine falcons had nearly disappeared from eastern and southeastern Canada by the mid-1970s, the report says. Canada phased out DDT uses over time, while species and nest-site protections, captive breeding and reintroductions also contributed to recovery.
The report cites two studies on anticoagulant rodenticides. In southern Ontario, these substances were detected in 62% of 133 dead or injured raptors examined by researchers. In British Columbia, 74% of 741 studied birds had been exposed to at least one second-generation anticoagulant. These figures describe the examined birds, not all raptors in either region. The report says exposure was associated with proximity to residential areas.
Garden Choices Affect Raptors
The return of predators is a reminder that gardens are part of wider food webs, not isolated bird-feeding spaces. Caterpillars and other insects feed birds; mice and voles feed owls and hawks. Removing prey with pesticides can reduce a predator’s food supply, while poisoned prey can expose predators to chemicals. The report says raptors also hunt animals such as mice, voles and pigeons, contributing to the regulation of some populations.
That creates a practical tension for people who welcome songbirds but do not want to see them hunted. Predation is part of the same ecosystem that supports garden birds. The report argues that tolerating some insect damage, fallen leaves and other less tidy features can leave more habitat and food for wildlife, though the effects of any individual garden choice will vary.
The issue also reaches beyond household decisions. The report points to past pesticide restrictions as one part of raptor recovery and says regulatory choices can shape future risks. Its account notes a 2026 amendment to Canada’s Pest Control Products Act that allows factors including economic and food security to be considered. The specific effects of that change on pesticide approvals and wildlife are not detailed in the source.
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From DDT Declines to Recovery
In the mid-20th century, persistent pesticides moved through food webs and accumulated in animals. As predators consumed contaminated prey, exposure could increase higher in the chain. The resulting eggshell thinning contributed to poor reproduction in several bird species, according to the report. Restrictions on DDT began in Canada in the 1970s, followed by conservation and reintroduction work.
The reported 35% increase is a change in a Canadian population index between 1970 and 2022; it does not mean every raptor species or local population grew by that amount. Nor does recovery mean every part of the ecosystem is healthy. The report frames the return as evidence that conservation action can matter while stressing continuing pressures, including pesticide exposure.
“Your garden is a network.”
— Laidback Gardener report
Exposure and Policy Questions
The cited exposure results apply to birds collected and examined in the named studies. The source does not provide the studies’ dates, sampling methods or enough detail to establish how representative those birds were of all raptors in Ontario or British Columbia. Exposure also does not by itself establish the cause of an individual bird’s death or injury.
The report gives no species-by-species breakdown for the 35% population-index increase and does not say whether that trend continued after 2022. It also does not explain how the 2026 legislative amendment will affect particular pesticide registrations, what safeguards will apply in exceptional cases, or how those decisions will affect wildlife. Those outcomes remain unclear from the material provided.
Monitoring Raptors and Pesticides
The report does not identify a new study release, regulatory decision or other scheduled milestone. Readers seeking a clearer picture will need future population monitoring and research on pesticide exposure, including information about where and when samples were collected. Further details on how the amended federal law is applied would also clarify what it means for pesticide approvals and environmental risk assessments.
For gardeners, the report’s immediate advice is to question whether treatment is needed, consider how much damage a pest is causing, and account for animals that may eat it. Where pesticide use is being considered, product directions and applicable local rules should be checked. The report does not claim that leaving every pest untreated is appropriate in every situation.
Key Questions
What is the reported change in Canada’s bird-of-prey population index?
The source says the index increased by about 35% from 1970 to 2022. That figure is a national index change, not a growth rate for every species or location.
Why did some birds of prey decline in the past?
The report says persistent pesticides, particularly DDT and DDE, contributed to declines. DDE thinned eggshells in several species and reduced reproductive success.
What did the cited studies find about rodenticide exposure?
Anticoagulants were detected in 62% of 133 examined raptors in southern Ontario. In a separate British Columbia study, 74% of 741 studied birds had been exposed to at least one second-generation anticoagulant. The findings concern the birds examined, not all birds of prey in those regions.
Does a hawk near a feeder mean the garden is unhealthy?
Not by itself. The report describes predators as part of a functioning food web, but says their return does not mean that every part of the ecosystem is healthy.
What does the report suggest gardeners do about pests?
It advises asking whether treatment is necessary, how much harm the pest is causing and what eats it. It also notes that insects, fallen leaves and other organisms can support the wider garden food web.
Source: rss
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