Using feathers to assess risk of mercury and selenium to bald eagle reproduction in the Great Lakes Region

An examination of the mercury and selenium concentrations in feathers of nestling and adult Haliaeetus leucocephalus in the Great Lakes region showed a maximum of 66 mg mercury per kg in adult feathers in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The geometric means of mercury in adult and nestling feathers ranged from 13-22 and 3.7-20 mg per kg, respectively in the areas sampled. Selenium concentrations were not significantly different across the regions nor between adult and nestling feathers, ranging from 0.8-3.2 mg per kg. There were no significant relationships between adult or nestling feather concentrations of mercury and selenium and measures of reproduction, productivity and nesting success. There are 37 references.