Freshwater fish in several regions of New York State (NYS) are known to contain concentrations of mercury (Hg) associated with negative health effects in wildlife and humans. We collected blood and breast feathers from bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestlings throughout NYS, with an emphasis on the Catskill region to determine their exposure to Hg. We assessed whether habitat type (lake or river), region (Delaware–Catskill region vs. rest of NY) or sample site elevation influenced Hg concentrations in bald eagle breast feathers using ANCOVA. The model was significant and accounted for 41% of the variability in log₁₀ breast feather Hg concentrations. Mercury concentrations in nestling breast feathers were significantly greater in the Delaware–Catskill Region (geometric mean: 14.5 µg/g dw) than in the rest of NY (7.4 µg/g, dw), and greater at nests located at higher elevations. Habitat type (river vs. lake) did not have a significant influence on breast feather Hg concentrations. Geometric mean blood Hg concentrations were significantly greater in Catskill nestlings (0.78 µg/g ww) than in those from the rest of NY (0.32 µg/g). Mercury concentrations in nestling breast feathers and especially blood samples from the Delaware–Catskill region were generally greater than those reported for most populations sampled elsewhere, including areas associated with significant Hg pollution problems. Bald eagles can serve as valuable Hg bioindicators in aquatic ecosystems of NYS, particularly given their broad statewide distribution and their tendency to nest across all major watersheds and different habitat types.

众所周知，纽约州（NYS）几个地区的淡水鱼所含的汞（Hg）浓度与野生动植物和人类健康产生负面影响。我们从整个纽约州的白头鹰（Haliaeetus leucocephalus）雏鸟身上收集了血液和胸羽，重点放在卡茨基尔地区，以确定它们与汞的接触量。我们使用ANCOVA评估了栖息地类型（湖泊或河流），区域（特拉华州–卡茨基尔地区与纽约州其余地区）还是样本地点升高影响了秃鹰胸羽中的汞浓度。该模型很重要，在log _10中占变异性的41％胸羽汞浓度。特拉华州-卡茨基尔地区（雏形平均数：14.5 µg / g dw）中，雏巢中的羽毛中的汞浓度显着高于纽约州其余地区（7.4 µg / g，dw），在海拔较高的巢中较高。栖息地类型（河流与湖泊）对胸羽汞浓度没有显着影响。Catskill雏鸟的几何平均血Hg浓度（0.78 µg / g ww）显着高于纽约其他地区的血Hg的几何平均浓度（0.32 µg / g）。雏巢中的羽毛中的汞含量，尤其是特拉华州-卡茨基尔地区的血液样品中的汞浓度通常高于其他地方（包括与汞污染严重相关的地区）的大多数人口所报告的浓度。