Many bird species numbers have declined to dangerously low levels. Currently, 89 North American bird species are federally-listed as threatened or endangered species. Pesticides and other environmental contaminants are considered to be contributing factors to these declines.

In addition to being responsible for protecting threatened and endangered species (Endangered Species Act), the Service also is responsible for enforcing the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These two laws combined offer protection to virtually all bird species. The Service's Division of Environmental Contaminants plays an important role in protecting and recovering bird species. Here are some examples of the types of roles we play:

Bald Eagle

Photo by Mike Lockart/USFWS

The bald eagle once ranged throughout every state in the Union except Hawaii. When America adopted the bird as its national symbol in 1782, as many as 100,000 nesting bald eagles lived in the continental United States, excluding Alaska. By 1963, only 417 nesting pairs were found in the lower 48 states. Today, as a result the banning of the pesticide DDT and Service recovery efforts in partnership with other Federal agencies, tribes, State and local governments, conservation organizations, universities, corporations, and many individuals, this number has risen to an estimate 5,748 nesting pairs

Contaminants biologists are involved in monitoring bald eagle populations and assisting in recovery activities. Some examples include in evaluating contaminant affects on eagle reproduction in Maine [pdf file], evaluating the potential impacts of a landfill expansion on eagles in New York, and determining why eagle breeding success continues to be low along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington and the Great Lakes shorelines.

Peregrine Falcon

Photo by Craig Koppie/USFWS

The peregrine falcon is one of nature's swiftest and most beautiful birds of prey. Its name comes from the Latin word peregrinus, meaning "foreigner" or "traveler." This impressive bird has long been noted for its speed, grace, and aerial skills. As with the bald eagle, DDT was a major factor in the decline of the peregrine falcon which was listed as an endangered species in 1970. Now, the peregrine is a symbol of America's recovering threatened and endangered species. Monitoring contaminant threats to peregrines in Alaska.

Spectacled Eider

Photo by Glen Smith/USFWS

In 1993, the spectacled eider, an arctic sea duck that sports a distinctive white eye patch, was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act due to its rapid decline on its primary breeding grounds on Alaska's west coast. After brief summers on Alaska and Russia tundra breeding grounds, the birds migrate to isolated wintering areas in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering seas. When listed, the causes for the dramatic decline in Alaska birds had not been identified. The main threats to this sea duck on its breeding grounds are now thought to include: lead poisoning from eating spent lead shot; predation by foxes, gulls, and jaegers; and hunting and other human disturbances. Biologists are not certain what threats the eider faces at sea, but believe threats could possibly be linked to factors that are causing the decline of other Bering Sea species such as the Steller sea lion. Lead and the Spectacled Eider [pdf file].

Ravens
In early June 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received reports of a large number (>20) of dead and dying ravens in the Sitka, Alaska area. Several carcasses were sent to the Service's National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Ashland, Oregon, where results confirmed that the ravens died from poisoning by the insecticide Diazinon. Full Story.

Black-Capped Chickadees
Since January 1998, approximately 300 black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) with grossly deformed bills have been reported in Alaska. Sightings have been clustered in Anchorage but distributed throughout south-central Alaska. The Service, along with the US Geological Survey Biological Resource Division, is conducting a study to determine the cause of the deformed bills. Full Story.

Oil Field Waste Pits
Two million migratory birds are estimated to die each year in oil and mining wastewater pits in the western United States. Pits and open tanks are commonly used to separate any water that is extracted from an oil-bearing formation along with the oil. Ineffective separation of oil and water results in wastewater covered by a layer of oil, creating a death trap for migratory birds and other wildlife. Service Environmental Contaminants and Law Enforcement staff have played a crucial role in reducing the number of problem oil pits. Full Story [pdf file].

Links

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species Home Page- http://endangered.fws.gov

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 3 - Bald Eagle: An American Success Story for the New Millennium

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species - Recovery of Peregrine Falcon

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 - Threatened and Endangered Species: Spectacled Eider [pdf file]

US Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Migratory Bird Management Home Page- http://birds.fws.gov/

USGS Alaska Landbird Resource Information System - Boreal Partners in Flight (See "chickadee alert")

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region - Oil Field Waste Pits: Death Traps for Wildlife .

Updated: March 4, 2002