This Green Earth has focused on a widely used class of pesticides called neonicotinoids before on This Green Earth, in context of their impacts on honeybees as well as native pollinators. But today, John and Nell spoke with Cynthia Palmer, Director of Pesticide Science and Regulation at the American Bird Conservancy, about the heavy impact of these chemicals on birds.
Then in the second half of the show, John and Nell focused on an iconic bird of the American West: the Greater sage-grouse. The population of this species is down 97% from historic levels, with habitat loss also happening at a quick clip, but there are major efforts under way to protect the species. Allison Jones, the Executive Director of the Wild Utah Project, joined the show to fill us in.