SREL Reprint #2640

Mercury in bald eagle nestlings from South Carolina, USA

Charles H. Jagoe1, A. Lawrence Bryan, Jr.1, Heather A. Brant1, Thomas M. Murphy2, and I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr.1

1University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E,
Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
2South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 585 Donnelly Drive, Suite 2,
Green Pond, South Carolina 29446, USA

Abstract: Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) may be at risk from contaminants in their diet and young birds may be particularly sensitive to contaminant exposure. To evaluate potential risks from dietary mercury exposure to eagle nestlings in South Carolina (USA), we surveyed mercury concentrations in 34 nestlings over two breeding seasons (1998 and 1999). Samples were also obtained from several post-fledging eagles in the region. Nestling feather mercury ranged from 0.61-6.67 µg Hg/g dry weight, nestling down mercury from 0.50-5.05 µg Hg/g dry weight, and nestling blood mercury from 0.02-0.25 µg Hg/g wet weight. We did not detect significant differences in tissue mercury between nestlings from coastal and inland regions in contrast to some other studies of piscivorous birds. Mercury concentrations were much-higher in the post fledging birds we sampled. Our data show that nestling eagles in South Carolina are accumulating mercury, and that concentrations in older birds may exceed regulatory guidelines.

Keywords: Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, mercury, nestlings

SREL Reprint #2640

Jagoe, C. H., A. L. Bryan, Jr., H. A. Brant and T. M. Murphy, and I. L. Brisbin, Jr. 2002. Mercury in bald eagle nestlings from South Carolina, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38:706-712.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).