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July 14, 2010

Minnesota loons tagged to study effects of BP oil spill

Loon Mist

Common Loons. Photo by Carl R. Sams II.

Minnesota loons are being tagged by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to study the effects of the BP oil spill. I guess I mistakenly assumed that birds found in northern states, forgetting about migration, would not be affected by the oil spill. 

Carrol L. Henderson, the nongame wildlife program supervisor in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, wrote the excellent piece, “For some Minnesota loons, this fall’s migration will be a one-way trip”.

Here’s an excerpt from his article: “Now another, imminent consequence of the oil spill has become painfully apparent. Birds from central and eastern North America will begin migrating southward from July through November. For some of these birds it will be a one-way trip. They may perish when they become mired in oil or face a lack of natural foods that have been eliminated by the oil. Potential victims range from shorebirds like the spotted sandpiper, to ospreys, lesser scaup, and common loons.

Loons have natural defenses against predators, but they have no defenses against oil. They do not recognize a sheen of oil on the water as a hazard.”

The BP oil spill reminds us that everything on Earth is connected. Fortunately, Carrol’s article offers ways we can help also.

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Posted by Kirt Manecke on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at 12:32 pm. Filed under Wildlife. Tagged , , . Follow any responses to this post with its comments RSS feed. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.