Thread: Wormy crappie

Originally Posted by doggone

I started noticing an increase in the parasites in fish that seems to me like it parallels the increase in a lot of these birds. Especially the different species of herons that are everywhere now. Parasites in a fish when I was a kid was unheard of as far as I remember. As soon as these birds started increasing in numbers and eating all the shoreline aquatic life,then fly from one body of water to another body of water . I think they transfer it from mud on their feet and the parasites that are not killed in the digestive track and then pooped out where ever. I see them sitting on ditches and ponds that are nothing more than polluted waste water....then they fly over to some nice body of water and there you go.

That's just a theory of mine but I think you would have to show me some pretty convincing evidence otherwise to get me to change my mind.

I agree with your hypothesis! When a species is protected, they can overpopulate. I don't really know about the population levels of wadding birds, but I bet their population is growing and not declining. I have heard that in northern states where these birds nests, the state wildlife agencies get permits from USFWS to "dispose" fledglings and eggs in an attempt to control the population. Seems to me that more made need to be done.

3 S's