We found a total of 36 different pesticides in 95 mesh nests," says Geert Gommers, pesticide expert at Velt. "That is worrying. Especially since the tits were no more than two weeks old and had never been outside the nest box. "
 
"We found fungicides (against fungi), herbicides (against weeds), insecticides (against insects) and biocides. It is remarkable that we discovered DDT in 89 of the 95 litters examined. "The use of this insecticide has been officially banned in Belgium since 1974. "That DDT is still present in our environment after all this time is worrying."

Few nests without pesticides

"We are not happy with these results," Geert Gommers continues. "Especially because almost all nests contain one or more pesticides." Velt (Association for Ecological Living and Gardening) and Bird Protection Flanders found no pesticides in only 4 of the 95 nests studied. "A mix of 2 insecticides and 6 fungicides was found in one nest."