Mercury contamination in aquatic food webs concentrates in wading birds that consume fish and invertebrates, impairing reproduction and neurological function.
Chronic mercury exposure causes neurological impairment, reproductive failure, and immune suppression in wading birds. Affected birds show abnormal behavior, reduced foraging success, and impaired parental care. The insidious nature of mercury poisoning means individual birds may suffer from chronic neurological and physiological damage without obvious external signs.