Sick swans

[Gord]

Rick Whyte let me know that there's a sudden increase in sick swans being found especially in the western part of the region (Abbotsford and Mission). This is sad to hear as overall the trends seems to have been that less and less sick swans from lead poisoning have been found. In our travels, watch for sick or dead swans. Often they're sitting in water alone or with their mate while the rest of the flock is gone feeding in the fields. They'll have droopy wings and look lethargic. I will pass along anything to Rick or the information can be posted here as he will see it on the forum as well.

Let's hope this is just a blip and that things return to the promising trends.

[paulos]

The U.S. did reverse the lead shot ban a couple years ago on federal lands (like wildlife areas). Could it have something to do with that?

[Gord]

Not sure if the cause of this spike is known. Even very old sites with lead pellets can reemerge as a problem if the lead becomes accessible to the birds (lower water levels than usual, machines digging in the substrate and uncovering lead etc). Laxton Lake has been a historically bad location for lead poisoning and it sounds like many of the sick birds have been using the lake as a roost.

[gabi]

I sadly spotted a dead swan today in the fields with its head in the water - near East of Whatcom Road exit and South Parallel Road.