I did my graduate work at Minnesota under Redig, who ran a bird of prey rehab program in the Veterinary School. Lead poisoning was a major problem for Bald Eagles. I was doing a great deal of hematology at the end, and the impacts on the red cells (which remain nucleated in birds) was astounding. I thought DDT was supposed to be the original culprit.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/163/nation/Lead_poisoning_threatening_Cal:.shtml

Lead poisoning threatening California condors as biologists try to send them into wild

By Associated Press, 6/12/2001 06:14

LOS ANGELES (AP) Biologists aiding in the reintroduction of California condors into the wild say four of the giant birds have died in the past year from lead poisoning.

The captive-bred condors are being threatened by lead from bullets, which scientists believe was the primary reason the birds were driven to the brink of extinction in the 1980s.

Along with the four dead condors, another 13 have received drug treatment to remove potentially lethal levels of lead.

Condor specialists believe the birds, which have been released in remote areas of Arizona and California, fed on carcasses of animals killed by gunfire.

''We always knew the lead was out there,'' said Patrick T. Redig, a University of Minnesota professor and a member of the scientific team overseeing the program. ''Now it's like, 'holy smokes. Here we go.' As soon as they get off the free lunch counter, they're into trouble.''

A recent tally counted 128 of the birds in captivity and 56 flying in the wild.

-- Anonymous, June 12, 2001