A Very Sad Follow-up to My Poem - ‘Warning Signs’
“Loons are at the top of the food chain,
So they are an excellent indicator,
Of environmental quality.”
Nina Schoch, Wildlife Biologist
My favorite bird, since my early childhood
One of the oldest living creatures, on Earth
On countless trips to the great northern lakes
Their ancient calls have filled my heart with mirth
But over the last 20 years, loon lovers have noticed
That fewer and fewer common loons, are being born
Their wondrous calls, growing ever dimmer, these days
If the northwood loses them, it will be our saddest morn
Biologists and scientists have now very sadly concluded
Mercury poisoning is adversely impacting their birth rates
And the toxic levels of mercury in our lakes, and in our fish
For all beings, including we humans, is far from being great
The vast majority of the mercury now entering the northern lake food chains
Is spewed into the atmosphere by coal-burning plants and waste incinerators
For the past 50 years, our ‘leaders’ have refused to take action, to reduce it
Sadly, just like water pollution, they say that we’ll address air pollution ‘later’
I now very sadly believe that ‘later’ may already be far too late for these loons
I no longer enjoy fishing in too many lakes, because of mercury contamination
And worst of all, on far too many dawn outings, I no longer hear as many loons
Or see as many wondrous infants riding on their loving mothers’ backs in elation
Scientific field studies now reveal that mated loons suffering from mercury poisoning rarely nest or lay eggs, and when they do, they incubate their eggs very poorly. Few chicks hatch, chicks don't feed well, and their parents have an extremely hard time feeding them. Scientists also now wonder whether severe vision problems from mercury poisoning may also now be affecting a loon’s continued ability to catch fish.
Today, researchers are attempting to determine exactly how high mercury levels need to be before loon reproduction decreases, or stops altogether. In a recent study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about one-third of the loons they caught and tested had mercury levels high enough to endanger future breeding success.
Most of the mercury pollution that reaches our northern lakes is being spewed into our atmosphere by large coal-burning power plants and municipal waste incinerators in the Midwest, and in central Canada. There are very few restrictions on levels of mercury contamination in either country; and many are now touting Coal as the ‘Fuel of the Future.’
Mercury exposure attacks the nervous system, affecting everything from brain development to muscle coordination. Newborns are especially susceptible to mercury exposure, and mercury released into the atmosphere quickly settles into rivers, lakes, and streams, where it is absorbed and ingested by fish. When expectant mothers (both animal and human) eat this tainted fish, they then pass this extremely toxic mercury on to their children.
Yet, our ‘leaders’ in both nations seem to care very little about any of this. Like our ever increasing tainted waters, most of them say that we will get to this extremely toxic air pollution problem sometime ‘later.’
I, for one, now very sadly wonder, if it may already be too late for the ancient and enchanting symbol of my beloved northwood – the majestic loon.
©Spring 2011, Mr. Ed
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Anna
a caring beautiful voice among our greed calls;
the loon is splendid but how long more shall
we enjoy the splendour?
i'm about to give up on us as a species.
John
Newfie Hugs, Rose
when loons ruled
~Mr Ed~
twas a better life that
you so richly conveyed
Lady Vivian
m
Bless ya! Jasmin Horst.
P.S. Tom I have loon living upstairs in her bin, you welcome to visit and see her in action.ha
Being a 'city-slicker' all my life, don't know that I ever saw, or even heard a Loon. The picture is certainly precious. If only I could be GOD, for a short time ...
ALL Corporate Charters would be REVOKED! ALL corporations, their Execs, their Boards of Directors - would be subject to both Prosecution and Monetary Restitution. There would no longer be legal protection for Mis-Management and Mal-Feasance of office. As a legal Entity, they would be Subject to Prosecution, just like any individual human being is!
ALL government Officials, including Past and Present members of every Administration, and Congress, and State Governors and State Senates would suffer the same fate!
DEAF EARS and BLIND EYES would be OPENED, and ALL forms of Pollution would CEASE and DESIST! CLEAN ALTERNATE ENERGY FORMS would instantly become the TOP PRIORITY!
Aaaaah - perchance to DREAM! TK Cuz ...
Joy L. Hale
Their beautiful calls resonate peace and timelessness.
Such a crucial subject to get out there to help awareness.
The pollutants are so noxious to all of us, so invasive in today's world. How magnificent these dwindling creatures are!
Blessings,
Christine