One wonders what the effects of large scale consumption of chicken meat
is doing to the raptors, given the recent reports of diseases in
Penguins living near Antarctic bases as a result of eating chicken
scraps. I don't know what the situation is in America, but poultry feed
in many countries is full of antibiotics and hormones and some of these
could be getting into the raptor population, with (probably) unknown
effects. Have any studies been made of these chicken-eating raptors?
Paul Osborn
>----------
>From:
>
> :
>Sent: Thursday, 19 June 1997 4:50
>To:
>Subject: Re: Birding chicken factories
>
>Hi David & others:
>
>>The worderful new (Spring 1997) catalogue oops catalog from the
>>America Birding Assoc includes the following item under Birding
>>Texas:
>>quote
>>Birder's Guide to Kingsville-Kleberg County, Paul C. Palmer
>>Guide to nine birding locations plus the chicken factories (for
>>raptors).
>>endquote
>>
>>Anyone been Kingsville-Kleberg County and know what this is
>>about? Perhaps they throw out the carcasses of dead chooks for the
>>BOPs? or they have free range chooks that are preyed on by BOPs?
>
>I have not personally been there but I believe this refers to one
>or more chicken-processing plants (Tyson or Perdu) located west of
>State Road 77 in Kleberg County. Crested Caracaras in particular
>(in addition to Black & Turkey Vultures) are attracted to the
>waste from the plant(s). This is also a good area for White-tailed
>and Harris' Hawks in addition to the ubiquitous Red-t. Hawks.
>
>....Jim
>
>----------------------
>James D. Hengeveld, PhD Biology Dept.
>Bloomington, Indiana 47405 Indiana University
>812: 855-5353
>
>
>
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