Brent, the bald eagle was the poster bird (lawsuit bird, in fact) for the lead shot restrictions on waterfowl. I can't comment on the impact on overall raptor POPULATIONS vs individual raptors found to have died of lead poisoning . . . but I think we all know what has happened to the bald eagle. A great story when it comes to the recovery of an endangered species. So if lead continues to be a problem, with the current restrictions . . . have the eagles grown smart enough to avoid it? Or are we now in search of another poster bird, because the bald eagle example obviously doesn't work any more??

If there are gazillions of studies out there that actually show an impact of lead SHOT on species other than waterfowl, and show that (unlike eagles, with a significant population INCREASE) there is an overall species decline rather than a few individual dead birds, you need to talk to the MN Nontoxic Shot Advisory Committee. They're the folks considering expanding lead shot restrictions, and even they say the studies aren't there (other than on doves): "Conclusive proof regarding the effects of lead shot on other upland game populations is lacking, but the topic has received little study to date." Seems to me we need a whole lot more study, and a whole lot more proof, before we increase lead shot restrictions.

There is merit to the dove studies, but of course a popular dove field will receive a whole lot more concentrated shot fall than virtually any other type of upland habitat. Same thing with shooting preserves (like Tall Timbers)--but note what's NOT happening to quail down there.

As far as I'm concerned, the jury is still out--WAY out--on the impact of lead on other species. Not individual representatives of other species, but overall populations. If eagle numbers are increasing when they were one of the reasons for the current restrictions, does it seem likely that other raptor populations are declining due to lead poisoning? Do we KNOW that they are declining? Anecdotally, I think most of us would say that if anything, we're seeing more hawks these days, not fewer.

Last edited by L. Brown; 01/28/08 09:22 PM.