Wildlife biologist Chris Anderson, who works out of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Mill Creek office, is a birder at heart, but his job description includes other animals.
Part of his job is to consult with other agencies on other conflicts between humans and wildlife.
Sometimes that means fielding complaints about the Washington’s state frog; more specifically, the Pacific tree frog’s chorus.
“It’s one of those things where you either love it or hate it. They’re sure quite loud, and that doesn’t do much for some folks.
“But the frogs are a good indicator of a functioning wetland system,” he said.
“Outside the urban core, they breed about everywhere. The wetland doesn’t even have to be permanent. In breeding season, the males come to call the females, who later lay eggs. The adults only go to water temporarily and (then) back into the forest,” Anderson said.
He also deals with agencies that are challenged by ospreys nesting on bridges and cell towers. If there are no eggs or young in a problem (for humans) nest, it can be removed as quickly as possible.
“We protect those nestS year-round,” Anderson said.
“Usually we’re the ones that issue permits for the nonbreeding season. We do encourage putting up a new nesting platform, and sometimes they do,” he said.
As an aside, “Ospreys are also one of the top five birds sucked up by jets,” Anderson said.
He does deal with dead birds, including a group of 11 robins and a junco. Most birds die far apart and are recycled by nature without anyone seeing them. Occasionally a group is found in a suspicious circumstance.
The birds were discovered in late winter and sent to a Wisconsin national wildlife center for examination.
“The cause of death appeared to be the organic compound carbamate, usually found in pesticides. They’re widely used in pesticides or for treating various types of grass seed,” he said.
“(Death) can be very quick, depending on the size of bird, or take longer. All carbonates clear out eventually if it’s a nonlethal dose but even then, it can cause something secondary, breathing problems (or) falling out of a tree and becoming injured. A lethal dose usually causes respiratory failure relatively quickly,” Anderson said.
More investigation will be done to discover the specifics of the pesticide compound, although the carbamate pesticides are quite common, and it won’t be possible to trace it back to a specific pesticide.
Suspicious bird deaths are most common in late winter or early spring when people are treating their lawns with insecticides and fertilizer, especially in suburban areas. The dozen birds were found in suburban King County.
“Usually with birds, the most common herbivorous birds like geese, and seed-eating birds can be affected. It’s more common than most folks think. “We generally only find out about it after the fact,” Anderson said.
That’s when we find the dead bodies.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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