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1 January 2018 Lead Gunshot Ingestion By A Peregrine Falcon
Alessandro Andreotti, Ivano Fabbri, Simonetta Menotta, Fabrizio Borghesi
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Abstract

Lead ammunition represents a source of poisoning for raptors eating game. Although the Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus commonly preys on gamebirds, only a few cases of lead poisoning have been recorded, probably owing to the lack of specific investigations. We document an adult female found dead with many lead shot in the digestive tract, mixed with the remains of a feral Pigeon Columba livia domestica and a European Starling Sturnus vulgaris. Concentrations in heart blood clot, liver, kidney and bone suggest that lead poisoning was not the ultimate cause of death. However, lead levels in the blood clot suggest that a small amount of lead may have been absorbed from the shot. The two prey species involved cannot be hunted in Italy but they are intensively shot all year round to prevent damage to crops. —Andreotti, A., Fabbri, I., Menotta, S. & Borghesi, F. (2018). Lead gunshot ingestion by a Peregrine Falcon. Ardeola, 65: 53–58.

Alessandro Andreotti, Ivano Fabbri, Simonetta Menotta, and Fabrizio Borghesi "Lead Gunshot Ingestion By A Peregrine Falcon," Ardeola 65(1), 53-58, (1 January 2018). https://doi.org/10.13157/arla.65.1.2018.sc1
Received: 24 April 2017; Accepted: 31 August 2017; Published: 1 January 2018
KEYWORDS
bird pest control
control de plagas de aves
hunting ammunition
Italia
Italy
lead levels in tissues
municiones de caza
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