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Document Title:
Assessment of Mercury in Maine's Interior Bald Eagle Population
AUTHOR(S):
Steven E. Mierzykowski David Evers Charles S. Todd Christopher DeSorbo William Hanson
REPORT NUMBER:
FY07-MEFO-3-EC
PAGES:
1 - 42
PUBLICATION DATE:
March 2009
ABSTRACT:
Mercury pollution is prevalent in the northeastern U.S. due to a combination of high rates of
atmospheric deposition from Midwest sources and an abundance of habitats in the Northeast that
effectively produce methylmercury from mercury inputs. Ongoing research has documented
elevated mercury levels in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial fish and wildlife in Maine. High
mercury burdens have been linked to negative effects on behavior, physiology, and fledging
success in birds. In this study, mercury exposure and the potential for reproductive impacts in
freshwater-feeding bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in Maine were investigated.
Between 2001 and 2006 (primarily 2004-2006), eaglet blood and shed adult feathers were
collected from freshwater-based bald eagle nest territories throughout Maine. Tissues were
analyzed for mercury to obtain insights on short-term and chronic exposure in eaglet and adult
age classes, respectively. Nonviable and abandoned eggs were also collected and analyzed for
mercury. Mercury patterns between habitats and among watersheds, relationships between
mercury exposure and eagle productivity were evaluated. Temporal mercury trends were
determined by comparing results in the present study to data collected in a previous U.S. Fish
and Wildlife sponsored study (Welch 1994).
Region 5 ID: 1130-5F40
DEQ ID: 200550001
PUBLISHED BY:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
DOCUMENT LINK:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/mainecontaminants/pdf/5F40_Final_Report.pdf, 600 KB
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Maine Contaminants Program
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