Bald Eagles and Mercury
Bald eagles, along with many other wildlife, are affected by mercury pollution. The National Wildlife Federation works with the Biodiversity Research Institute to educate Americans about this issue and to collect data on how mercury is affecting bald eagles and other wildlife. We hope that by seeing a bald eagle family in the wild with this Web cam, you will join NWF in its efforts to eliminate the threat of mercury to wildlife.
Mercury comes from coal burning power plants and trash incinerators around the country and is deposited in rain. The northeastern United States has a number of mercury "hotspots" where high levels threaten fish and wildlife. Other fish-eating birds like eagles, osprey, and kingfishers can also have high mercury levels, as well as small fish-eating mammals such as mink and otter. Birds that do not eat fish, such as forest songbirds and coastal sparrows, have also been found to have high levels of mercury in their bodies.
Mercury is a neurotoxin for wildlife, which means that when a bird has a lot of mercury in its body, it cannot function as well. Parents are not as adept at caring for chicks. Chicks are not as able to survive. The birds get fatigued and are less able to cope with the stresses of life.
NWF's mercury team is working throughout the United States to reverse the threat of mercury contamination. But we can't do it alone and need your help. Please sign up to get involved in our campaign.
|
