The Effect on the Brewer's Sparrow of Spraying Big Sagebrush

Abstract

Three sagebrush plants containing Brewer's sparrow nests with eggs were sprayed with 2,4-D. Comparison of these to three nests in unsprayed brush showed no evidence that the herbicide spray reduced nest success during the year of application. Brewer's sparrow use of a sprayed sagebrush stand 1 and 2 years after spraying was 67% and 99% lower, respectively, than use on an unsprayed stand, and no evidence of nesting was found on the sprayed stand.