".........It was the banning of organochlorine pesticides such as aldrin
that arrested the catastrophic population declines of assorted birds of prey
and otters, amongst others ......."

Believe it or not I would agree with you to a very large extent, though like
so many things it was ignorance that was the real problem.
We were told that it was best to spray alternate weeks one week
insecticide, next fungicide through the life of almost all food crops, so
that is what we did.......because there was no way that "Mrs Public" wanted
to find any sort of pest or blemish on her fruit or veg (Not so different
today, but now more is sprayed by growers in 3rd world countries that we
import from so our conscience is clear).
It seems that in our culture it is all or nothing. Several chemicals could
have been kept as chemicals of last resort.
With today's knowledge of the effects most growers are much more
responsible, and the cost is now a good limiting factor.
In those days we had Ministry Advisors visiting on a regular basis who would
advise on most things including pest control.
Now they are a distant memory.
Yes we do have more birds, such as Peregrines but now they are being shot
and poisoned by "Bird fanciers, mostly those who race Pigeons.... we have
lost at least 6 in the last 3 years where I am.
Now if I could find something to spray my cabbage to get rid of
pigeons......................

--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk