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Rising mercury levels in region's songbirds
Jan 26, 2012 12:04 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="256" caption="A rusty blackbird, from Wikipedia."]
[/caption]A study by the Biodiveristy Research Institute and the Nature Conservancy found dangerously high levels of mercury in several Northeastern bird species, including rusty blackbirds, saltmarsh sparrows, and wood thrushes. Anthony DePalma describes the report's findings in the Science section of the Tue., Jan. 25 New York Times. The study found that birds in contaminated sites were three times as likely to abandon their nests or exhibit abnormal incubation or feeding behavior. In some nests, the chicks vocalized less and did not beg as aggressively to be fed. David C. Evers, the institute’s executive director, said levels of contamination were highest in habitats like marshes and beaver ponds that go through cycles of wet and dry, even if they are far from power plants. He also applauded the EPA's new mercury standards, adopted last month and scheduled to take effect over the next four years. Read about the study in The New York Times.
[/caption]A study by the Biodiveristy Research Institute and the Nature Conservancy found dangerously high levels of mercury in several Northeastern bird species, including rusty blackbirds, saltmarsh sparrows, and wood thrushes. Anthony DePalma describes the report's findings in the Science section of the Tue., Jan. 25 New York Times. The study found that birds in contaminated sites were three times as likely to abandon their nests or exhibit abnormal incubation or feeding behavior. In some nests, the chicks vocalized less and did not beg as aggressively to be fed. David C. Evers, the institute’s executive director, said levels of contamination were highest in habitats like marshes and beaver ponds that go through cycles of wet and dry, even if they are far from power plants. He also applauded the EPA's new mercury standards, adopted last month and scheduled to take effect over the next four years. Read about the study in The New York Times.