AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Size and Mass of Grit in Gizzards of Sandhill Cranes, Tundra Swans, and Mute Swans

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2001
Authors:J. Franson, C, Hansen, SP, Duerr, AE, Destefano, S
Journal:Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology
Volume:24
Issue:2
Date Published:2001
ISBN Number:15244695
Keywords:Anatidae, Cygnus, Cygnus columbianus, Cygnus olor, Gruidae, Grus, Grus canadensis, Grus grus, Olor, Olor columbianus
Abstract:Because it has been suggested that waterbirds may ingest lost or discarded lead fishing weights as grit, we examined grit in the gizzards of Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis), Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus), and Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), three species where individuals have been poisoned by the ingestion of lead fishing weights. The greatest proportion (by mass) of grit in gizzards of Sandhill Cranes consisted of particles with a minimum dimension of 2.36-4.75 mm. Grit particles in swans were much smaller, with the most prevalent (by mass) being 0.6-1.18 mm. The greatest dimension of the largest grit particle found in cranes and swans was 17.4 mm and 14.0 mm, respectively. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a ban on lead fishing weights of ≤25.4 mm in any dimension. Based on the size of grit particles that we found in gizzards of Sandhill Cranes, Mute Swans, and Tundra Swans, we believe it is unlikely that individuals of those species would ingest, as grit, lead fishing weights larger than 25.4 mm in any dimension.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/1522036
Short Title:Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology
Taxonomic name: 
Anatidae (Birds), Cygnus (Birds), Cygnus columbianus (Birds), Cygnus olor (Birds), Gruidae (Birds), Grus (Birds), Grus grus (Birds)
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith