Lead Poisoning Of Waterfowl Research Articles

Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl at Rice Lake, Illinois

About 1500 waterfowl died during an outbreak of lead poisoning at Rice Lake, Illinois, during the spring of 1972. The lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) made up 75 percent of 394 birds found dead or dying. Of 96 scaups examined, 75 percent had at least 1 lead pellet in the gizzard and 36 percent had more than 10. The scaups had lost, on the average, 30-35 percent of their body weights before dying. Concentrations of lead in scaups averaged 46 +/- 4 ppm in liver, 66 +/- 8 ppm in kidney, and 40 +/- 5 ppm in wing bones (radius and ulna). Concentrations in wing bones were approximately twice as great in immature scaups as in adults. Positive correlations existed between (1) the number of pellets in the gizzard and body weight, (2) the number of pellets in the gizzard and ppm of lead in kidney, (3) the number of pellets in the gizzard and ppm of lead in wing bones, and (4) ppm of lead in liver and ppm of lead in wing bones.

A Fluorescent Erythrocyte Test for Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl

Forty-five mallards (Arlas platyrhynchos) and 12 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were experimentally poisoned with lead shot. Blood samples collected from poisoned and unexposed birds were subjected to blue-ultraviolet light of approximately 400 m,t4 and examined microscopically for the presence of fluorescent erythrocytes. Some red fluorescence of erythrocytes was observed in all 64 blood samples drawn between 10 hours and 10 days postexposure from 27 of the poisoned mallards. Similarly, all 23 blood samples drawn between postexposure days 1 and 14, from the 12 poisoned Canada geese, contained unequivocally fluorescent erythrocytes. In general, after the first 3 to 9 days postexposure, the strength of the fluorescence progressively decreased, but still remained diagnostic at death for 19 of 20 mallards and for all 7 Canada geese that succumbed to lead poisoning. By com- parison, 19 mallards that had recovered from lead toxicosis, 20 unexposed mallards, and 11 of 12 unexposed geese had no erythrocytes that fluoresced. The fluorescence probably resulted from in- creased erythrocyte protoporphyrin caused by elevated blood lead concentrations. The fluorescent erythrocyte test is a quick, simple test for lead poisoning in waterfowl and appears to be as reliable as some conventional techniques previously used. In addition, blood from live birds can be tested for the presence of fluorescent erythrocytes. This test can therefore be used in conjunction with banding programs to investigate the incidence of lead intoxication in waterfowl populations.

Lead Poisoning of Waterfowl in Wisconsin

The presence, prevalence, and significance of lead poisoning as a mortality factor of wild waterfowl in Wisconsin is reviewed. Since 1940, more than 1700 Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have succumbed to lead poisoning in Wisconsin. This surpasses the total Canada goose mortality due to lead poisoning reported in the literature for North America. Although the majority of lead poisoning outbreaks among geese occurred in the spring, total mortality was equally distributed between fall and spring outbreaks. Lead poisoning mortality among whistling swans (Olor columbianus) in Wisconsin annually takes a small number of the spring migrating population. Seven duck species were known victims of lead poisoning in Wisconsin, but this disease was not considered an important mortality factor of ducks in the state. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) was the major target of the disease. Some of the ecological factors found to be involved with lead poisoning of waterfowl in Wisconsin were climate, water levels, soil types, diet, and the timing of waterfowl migrations. The signs, pathological lesions, epizootiology, and significance of lead poisoning of waterfowl in Wisconsin were considered and discussed. 18 references.

Consumption of Cereal Grains by Migratory Waterfowl

ager. Herewith are presented some observations on the consumption of cereal grains by representative species of captive wild waterfowl during the period, 1949-1951, at the Natural History Survey Laboratory located on the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge near Havana, Illinois. These data were taken from records on the rate of food consumption by healthy wild birds being held in captivity in connection with an investigation of lead poisoning in waterfowl (Jordan and Bellrose, 1951). The birds were held in large, wire-enclosed pens and were exposed to all elements of weather. Game-farm and wild mallards, Anas platyrhynchos L., blue-winged teals, Anas discors L., and Canada geese, Branta canadensis (L.) were generally penned in groups of at least 10 birds each; each group was provided with a constant supply of running water piped into large metal tanks 6 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 1 foot deep. The several diets made available to the birds in-

An Early Report of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl

An Early Report of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl

An Early Report of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl

An Early Report of Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl

Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl, by Alexander Wetmore [Review

Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl, by Alexander Wetmore [Review