La. Baron et al., MONITORING BIOACCUMULATION OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE BELTED KINGFISHER (CERYLE ALCYON), Environmental monitoring and assessment, 47(2), 1997, pp. 153-165
The belted kingfisher (Celyle alcyon), a common piscivore in the easte
rn United States, has become a common endpoint in ecological risk asse
ssments (ERA) because of their high consumption of potentially contami
nated aquatic prey. While bioaccumulation data and biosurveys may be u
sed to support conclusions of ERAs for kingfishers, there are currentl
y no published data on contaminant concentrations in kingfishers. Addi
tionally, methods available for collecting biological samples (e.g., f
eathers, eggs, food debris, etc.) from kingfisher burrows can be detri
mental to the reproductive success of the birds. We present a method f
or obtaining samples from burrows during or following the nesting seas
on. The method was applied to kingfisher burrows on the Oak Ridge Rese
rvation (ORR) in eastern Tennessee. Feathers, eggshells, and nestlings
were collected from burrows and analyzed. In addition, carcasses of t
hree adult kingfishers found dead on the ORR were analyzed. Metals and
radionuclides were accumulated by both juvenile and adult birds. Body
burdens of cadmium, lead, and cesium-137 in adult birds were below le
vels associated with toxicity. Concentrations of selenium and mercury
were observed at potentially toxic levels. Contaminants in eggshells a
nd nestling feathers indicate exposure, however, there is insufficient
information to evaluate the toxicological significance of this contam
ination.