ORIGINAL: bronko22000
This is the main reason that lead shot was banned for waterfowl hunting. The dabbling ducks were found to be eating the lead shot as they fed.
That was the main THEORY that caused the lead ban..... but to this day it remains just that... a THEORY.
No doubt that if a duck ingests a pellet of lead, it will get lead posioning.... thats a fact. The gizzrd of a duck is so strong that it will actually even grind up a steel pellet.
Here is where the theory comes in.....
The Study (which was done in the 50s and whose specific name escapes me at the moment) suggested that the yearly die-off of waterfowl in the pacific northwest states (later found to be caused by a bacteria and now considered as annual as dieing salmon after migration) MIGHT be caused by lead shot ingested.
Anyone who knows about settlement can tell you how long it takes a lead pellet to sink too deep into the bottom to be reached by a duck bill. If there is any current at all.... 2 weeks MAX. In soft tidal areas.... as quick as 48 hours.
In turn, they bring out steel shot... which has been responsible for the wanton death of more waterfowl than lead shot will ever be. Estimates for lead shot pellet ingestion in waterfowl ranged from 1.5-3% of the annual kill. Combines kill a hell of a lot more ducks than that. Steel has come a long way in 20 years, but it still cripples up ducks that ought to be dead in the air... and several more are hit and never fall at all... but go off and die. I guess thats why eagles are making a strong come back. Give and take...