The New York Times reports on the elevated levels of mercury found in New York Catskills' bald eagle chicks.A report put out by Maine environmental group BioDiversity Research Institute showed the high levels of mercury build up in the chicks' feathers and blood.
High mercury levels have been shown to cause reproductive harm, yet the institute's director David C. Evers and study co-author Chris DeSorbo say "that not enough research had yet been done to say with certainty what effect the elevated mercury levels might have on eagles."
Mercury (which is blown east from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest), contaminates water sources, affecting fish and other animal and plant life, and the eagles eat the fish thus ingesting the metal.
"For much of the year, bald eagles live on brown trout, smallmouth bass and other fresh water fish that can be contaminated with methylmercury. Adult eagles feed the fish to their nestlings. Studies of common loons have shown how mercury can affect behavior. The loons become lethargic, which can affect their ability to gather food or sit on a nest long enough for eggs to hatch. Reproductive rates in loons contaminated with mercury can drop by as much as 40 percent, according to Mr. Evers.Read the full story: Bald eagles in Catskills show increasing mercury
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