Map Showing Which Countries Have Lost Wars to Birds (2024)

Last Updated: June 27, 2024 1 Comment

The map above shows the two countries that have lost wars to actual birds (losing wars to Turkey doesn’t count). To learn more about each see below:

China

During the Great Leap Forward China lost a war to sparrows, yes sparrows.

Here’s a detailed explanation of what happened:

The Four Pests Campaign (1958 to 1962)

1. Background: The Four Pests Campaign was part of Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward, an initiative aimed at rapidly transforming China from an agrarian society into a socialist society through rapid industrialization and collectivization. The campaign aimed to eradicate four pests: rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows. Sparrows were targeted because they were believed to be major pests that ate grain seeds and fruits, thereby reducing agricultural yields.
2. The War on Sparrows:
   • Mobilization: The Chinese government mobilized the entire population to eliminate sparrows. People banged pots, pans, and drums to scare sparrows, preventing them from landing until they died of exhaustion.
   • Destruction of habitat: Simultaneously, the campaign encouraged the destruction of sparrow nests as a means to impede their reproduction, contributing to the broader objective of decreasing sparrow populations.
   • Direct targeting: Shooting sparrows using guns and other methods was implemented to achieve a significant reduction in their numbers.
   • Results: The campaign was highly effective in reducing the sparrow population. This led to the near extinction of sparrows in many areas of China.
3. Unintended Consequences:
   • Ecological Imbalance: Sparrows were not only grain-eaters but also consumed large quantities of insects. With the sparrow population decimated, insect populations, particularly locusts, boomed unchecked.
   • Locust Plague: The surge in the locust population led to severe crop damage. The locusts destroyed crops far more effectively than the sparrows ever did.
4. Famine:
   • Agricultural Decline: The locust plagues, combined with other policies of the Great Leap Forward (such as poorly planned agricultural practices and industrial projects), led to a significant decline in agricultural productivity.
   • Great Chinese Famine: This period saw one of the deadliest famines in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 15 to 45 million people from starvation and malnutrition.

Conclusion

The “war on sparrows” is often cited as a classic example of how well-intentioned but poorly informed environmental interventions can lead to catastrophic consequences. The Chinese government eventually recognized the mistake, and the policy was reversed. Sparrows were removed from the list of pests, and efforts were made to restore the ecological balance.

Australia (1932)

At least sparrows can fly, but Australia lost a war to Emus, a species of flightless bird.

The Emu War (or Great Emu War) involved the Australian military attempting to manage an overpopulation of emus in Western Australia.

Here’s a detailed account:

Background

1. Post-World War I Context: After World War I, many Australian soldiers were given land in Western Australia to take up farming under a government-backed program. These areas were not naturally suited for intensive agriculture, leading to many challenges for the farmers.
2. The Emu Problem: In 1932, the region experienced an influx of emus migrating from inland areas to the coast. This migration was driven by the birds seeking food and water, which were more abundant in the agricultural areas. The emus began to feed on the crops, causing significant damage and losses for the farmers.

The “War”

1. Call for Help: The farmers, unable to cope with the emu invasion, sought assistance from the government. They requested military aid to manage the emu population.
2. Military Intervention:
   • Deployment: In November 1932, the government sent a small military force, including soldiers armed with two Lewis machine guns and around 10,000 rounds of ammunition, to tackle the emu problem. Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Royal Australian Artillery was in charge of the operation.
   • First Attempt: The initial attempt to cull the emus occurred on November 2, 1932. The emus proved surprisingly difficult to kill; they scattered quickly and were not easily herded into range of the machine guns.
   • Second Attempt: A few days later, a more concentrated effort was made near a local dam, where around 1,000 emus were spotted. However, the terrain made it difficult to set up effective shooting positions. Only a small number of emus were killed, and many escaped.
3. Outcome:
   • Failure: Despite the military’s efforts, the emus continued to evade the soldiers. They were surprisingly fast and agile, and the operation failed to make a significant dent in the emu population.
   • Withdrawal: After several unsuccessful attempts and only 986 emus were confirmed as killed, the military withdrew. The operation was deemed a failure and was widely mocked in the media.

Aftermath

1. Public and Media Reaction: The incident was widely ridiculed both in Australia and internationally, often cited as an example of the futility of using military force against wildlife.
2. Continued Efforts: The government eventually turned to other methods to control the emu population, including offering bounties on emu kills. Farmers also built more robust fencing to protect their crops.
3. Long-Term Impact: The Emu War did little to solve the immediate problem, but it did highlight the challenges of managing wildlife in agricultural areas and the need for more effective and sustainable solutions.