Natural History Wanderings

Turkey Vulture by Sandy Steinman

A recently published study showed the benefits of reducing lead ammunition to birds in California. Lead poisoning from ammunition has been considered one of the major causes of decrease in California Condor population. In response since 2008 California has banned the use of lead ammunition in hunting areas in the range of California Condor. A new study shows that not only did California Condors but  also Golden Eagles and Turkey Vultures benefited from the lead ban. They also had a lower incidence of lead poisoning from the reduced exposure in the those areas where lead ammunition was banned.  You can read the study at:  PLoS ONE: Impact of the California Lead Ammunition Ban on Reducing Lead Exposure in Golden Eagles and Turkey Vultures.

The New York Times reports on efforts to ban or put limits on lead in ammunition on a national level:

“Citing risks to birds and to human health, roughly 100 environmental groups formally asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency this week to ban or at least impose limits on lead in the manufacturing of bullets and shotgun pellets for hunting or recreation.”

Read full New York Times story at: Zeroing In on Lead in Hunters’ Bullets