Dr. Joseph J. Hickey, and covered sample areas throughout southeastern Wiscon- 

 sin [32]. In unsprayed communities (Madison, Portage, and Stoughton) , song- 

 birds numbered 409 pairs per 100 acres, while in sprayed communities (Janes- 

 ville, Wauwatosa, and Shorewood) populations ranged from 31% to 905^ lower. 

 The familiar robin was especially hard-hit in the sprayed communities; there 

 were 50 times as many robins in the average unsprayed community as in the most 

 heavily treated community. House sparrows appeared to be little affected by 

 the spray. Similar results in Michigan have been reported [43], [64]. Michi- 

 gan studies are continuing (Wallace, unpubl.). 



C. Agricultural Pest Control 



1. Imported Fire Ant . During the past year, most field work by the 

 Bureau on pesticide studies has been concentrated upon appraising the effects 

 of granular applications of heptachlor and dieldrin, as used in the program 

 for eradication of the imported fire ant. These studies have involved work 

 conducted by Bureau employees, by two universities under research contracts, 

 and by State conservation departments and other cooperating agencies. Study 

 areas were established on which pre-treatment and post-treatment numbers of 

 birds were determined; careful searches were made for dead birds and animals, 

 and reproductive success measured. 



Details on the size and scope of the program to eradicate the imported 

 fire ant are given in various papers [l], [12], [23], [48], Initially it was 

 planned that all infested lands were to be treated with 20 pounds of 10% 

 heptachlor or dieldrin granules per acre. This was considered sufficient to 

 eradicate the ant and prevent reinfestation in the treated area for a minimum 

 of 3 years, during which time the danger of reinfestation would be eliminated 

 by the treatment of surrounding lands. The procedure was followed during the 

 first 2 years of the program, with heptachlor being used more extensively than 

 dieldrin and some forest and marsh land remaining untreated even though within 

 treatment blocks. 



At the start of the third year of the program, application rates were 

 reduced to 1.25 pounds technical heptachlor per acre, and experiments with two 

 0.25 pound technical heptachlor per acre treatments (repeated after a 3-month 

 interval) have reached the large area treatment testing stage in several 

 States. Experiments with baits and various chemicals at low dosage rates are 

 under way on small plots. Only limited studies of the side effects of these 

 newer treatments have been made, and when discussed below the application 

 rates are given. 



All other studies reported in this section on side effects of the imported 

 fire ant program pertain to the 2 pounds of technical heptachlor per acre 

 applications. 



Preliminary observations of the effects of the program on wildlife were 

 summarized by Janzen [33]. Some of these studies are now in their second 

 year. All intensive studies by Bureau employees, or of cooperating State 



