controlling kosters curse

[terracore]

Iʻm wondering what happens to the seeds using any of the above treatments.  Are they still viable or are they poisoned too?  And birds love them.  Will it hurt the birds?

Crossbow is not a pre-emergent herbicide, so it will not affect seeds that are already developed.  It may prevent a treated plant from producing seeds but that really depends on when it's applied and how fast it kills the plant.  The best way to address this concern is to only apply it to plants that aren't in a seed-producing season or cycle.

Whether or not it harms the birds is a matter of perspective.  It's generally agreed that glyphosate may cause harm to humans but they are still spraying it on our food.  Regardless of whether or not we know the chemicals affect the birds, killing the kosters curse removes a food source for the birds, and it's possible that negatively affects them.  But then the perspective thing comes in... in what ways does Kosters Curse harm the birds? The berries are edible by humans but are considered toxic to goat, sheep, and other animals.

"Ecological Impact on Animals

Habitat Alteration: Koster’s Curse forms dense thickets that can smother pastures, plantations, and native vegetation, reducing habitat and food resources for native wildlife. This indirect impact can be more significant than direct toxicity, as it disrupts ecosystems and biodiversity.

Seed Dispersal: The plant’s seeds are spread by fruit-eating birds, feral pigs, and other animals, which consume the berries. While this indicates that the fruit is not immediately toxic to these species, the long-term ecological damage caused by the plant’s spread can negatively affect animal populations.

3. Biosecurity and Control Measures
Biosecurity Risks: Koster’s Curse is listed among the “100 of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species” due to its environmental and economic impacts. Its seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 12 years, making control difficult."

So Kosters Curse smothers native food sources and ecosystems birds require, and offers up it's own berries as replacement.  I'm no biologist, but it seems like it's reducing diversity of the flora, and therefore their diet. Short-term, Crossbow is probably bad for the birds because it interrupts their food source, but part of a longer-term management process, it's probably better for them.  Perspective.