Along with the article, watch an informative video.

NewsOn6: http://www.newson6.com/story/14405200/e ... -lead-shot

"Oklahoma Eagles Poisoned by Lead Shot

Posted: Apr 07, 2011 1:34 PM PDT
Updated: Apr 18, 2011 1:15 PM PDT
By Chris Howell - email

This juvenile Bald Eagle has ingested lead pellets as seen in its x-rays.



Using lead shot is banned over waterways and on Federal lands.Chris Howell, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Since the banning of DDT in 1972, the population of bald eagles is on the rise in Oklahoma, but lately many have been showing up at the Tulsa Zoo with a different type of poisoning.

"This bird came in for a broken wing and we've already done a lead level test, we've done the x-rays not only for the fracture of the wing but for that, and to see that we know that we have more than just a fracture," said Dr. Kay Backues, the zoo's staff veterinarian.

Lead shot like this is toxic and works its way up through the food chain. It can be seen in this eagle's digestive tract. Dr. Backues says she is finding lead poisoning to be a factor in most eagles she is treating.

"They're coming in very ill, sometimes are DOA on arrival or dying shortly after and we're treating them for lead as they walk in the door," said Backues. "Lead is a very toxic metal and we use it because it's cheap. It ends up in the ground, it ends up on the bottom of ponds, it's ingested by birds, usually by birds that are then preyed upon by larger species like eagles."

Game Warden Travis Garrett keeps watch over many of Oklahoma's 40 pairs of nesting Bald Eagles and enforces the ban on toxic shot along waterways.

"For waterfowl there is no choice, it's going to be non-toxic," Garrett explained. "As far as going on a dove field, things like that, that's going to be up to the sportsman. If the sportsman wants to step up and maybe help to make a little bit of a difference then he can run steel or another non-toxic shot through his gun. Before heading to the dove field this year, maybe bring some steel shot, some non-toxic shot to the field with you. It would help the eagles."

Dr. Backues agrees.

"I would love to see people go, 'I care enough to spend a few extra cents to get non-lead shot wherever possible,'" she said.""

Lolo, Montana: Osprey, Ozzie and Harriet, have returned. Saw both on the nest this morning but was not quick enough to get both of them.


Ozzie and Harriet article and informative video on "NBC Montana": http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/27458995/detail.html

Ozzie and Harriet are at the Dunrovin Ranch near Missoula, Montana. The following cam link provides a view of " Dunrovin - Bitterroot River in Lolo" and "Hellgate - Clark Fork River in Missoula": http://www.umt.edu/geosciences/faculty/ ... /index.htm

For osprey and ravens, looks as if the spring runoff which is muddying the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana, has changed wildlife behavior to some degree, per Audubon Society Member.

Article: "Missoulian": "Osprey, raven face off near Rattlesnake home":

"An osprey eats a fish in a tree near Missoula’s Greenough Park on Monday. A raven harassed the osprey in an attempt to make the fish hawk drop its catch. Photo courtesy of PAULA BAKER"

Reporter Rob Chaney:
http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/recrea ... 03286.html

Interesting - I know things are interconnected, but it's in so many more ways than I realize. Thanks for posting the article CAL!

And I found a follow-up to one of your earlier articles:

Quote by: CAL04

WCNC Article: http://www.wcnc.com/home/Bald-eaglet-in ... 69479.html

"Bald eaglet injured after fall from nest during storm"

by Amy Lehtonen / NewsChannel 36
WCNC.com
Posted on April 13, 2011 at 11:39 AM

BELMONT, N.C. -- The Carolina Raptor Center is caring for a bald eaglet that was injured when it fell from its nest in a Belmont neighborhood last Monday during a severe thunderstorm.
<- snip ->

They were able to return the eaglet to its family on their second try!

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Injured- ... 85999.html

Happy follow-up news on the injured Belmont, NC, eaglet. Loved seeing the picture of the family back together. Thank you, JudyB.

Sorry that I did not see this article sooner. The picture is oh-so-cute that I just had to share.

"As La. floodwaters rise, crews save osprey chicks
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY - Associated Press":

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/14682758/ ... rey-chicks


"An osprey chick too young to fly bites rehabilitator Donna Gee's finger while it is weighed at her home in Youngsville, La., on March 17. (AP Photo/Janet McConnaughey)"

Swedish bird catcher convicted of animal cruelty for trapping 13,000 wild birds
October 17, 2011, EDT.
The Associated Press

STOCKHOLM - A Swedish man who captured 13,000 wild birds and kept hundreds of them locked up in his home has been convicted of animal cruelty and illegal hunting and sentenced to a year and a half in prison.

The Hudiksvall district court says 39-year-old Pierre Johansson used illegal nets and traps to capture the birds, including owls, falcons, hawks, sparrows, pheasants and woodpeckers.

After documenting his catch, he released most of them but the court said Monday that Johansson also kept hundreds of birds locked up in cages in his garage and a hen house on his property.

Johansson claims he wanted to give the birds shelter during the winter and never intended to harm them.

This man should be locked up in a jail cell and see how he likes it