A REPORT released by the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) today has found that, six months after the export of Magellan lead from the port had ceased, lead levels on the feathers of common bush birds in the Esperance area were among some of the highest ever recorded.

The report, entitled Monitoring Point-Source Lead and Nickel Contamination of a Terrestrial Environment Using the Feathers of Common Bush Birds, is the result of a partnership between the CCWA, the Esperance Local Environmental Action Forum (LEAF) and Locals for Esperance Development (LED), with technical assistance from the WA Animal Health Laboratories.

Fifty-one passerine birds were mist netted by community volunteers at four sites around Esperance – two impact sites at Panorama Street and the Cemetery where bird deaths had been recorded, and two reference sites at Bandy Grove and Woody Island where no such deaths were believed to have occurred – and had their sixth primary feather extracted from both the left and the right wing.

The feathers were subsequently submitted for chemical analysis using NATA accredited methodology at the Chemistry Centre of Western Australia.

The highest lead level returned from the feathers of the birds captured at the reference sites was 13mg/kg in a new england honeyeater, however this pales in comparison to the highest level found on a bird at an impact site – 730mg/kg, recorded from the feathers of a white-browed scrubwren at Panorama Street.

The report went on to state that the ultimate fate of the lead contamination in the Esperance environment is unknown, but there would still appear to be a problem with fugitive dust and an ongoing risk of bioaccumulation in the local terrestrial ecosystem.

CCWA biodiversity conservation officer Dr Nic Dunlop, who headed the report, said the results were shocking simply because the tests were originally meant to observe bioaccumulation in the birds.

“What we have found is that at that time in October, the birds were still being exposed to the lead through the external environment, at a significant level,” Dr Dunlop said

“If you look at the literature on tests of this type, these are the highest lead levels ever recorded for tests of this nature.

“Putting it simply, if the birds had ingested this level of lead, rather than have it coat on their feathers, they would be long dead.”

Dr Dunlop said the nature of the lead carbonate meant it was extremely hard to remove from the environment.

“It doesn’t move with water, it tends to cling to surfaces and it is attracted to fur and feathers of animals.

“I’d say the local community needs to remain vigilant with cleaning, especially in areas around Sinclair, Nulsen and Dempster Head.

“High levels of lead likely remain on vegetation, on rock surfaces and on the soil and that is of concern for families with children, as well as pets, so vigilance with regards to cleaning must be maintained.”

The report is the first part of a monitoring program which will test the birds every October until the lead content is reduced to normal background levels, which Dr Dunlop predicted could take years or even decades.

LED spokesperson Michelle Crisp described the results of the report as distressing, and said it reaffirmed LED’s stance that the town has not been properly cleaned.

“It’s yet another report that confirms the town has not been cleaned properly,” Mrs Crisp said.

“I guess I wasn’t surprised at the results, but I was amazed at the extent, and to learn that these levels are the highest ever recorded, it is a bit distressing.”

The results of the report will be presented in a public meeting tomorrow at 3pm at the Esperance Seafarers Centre.

The full report of the study is available on the Conservation Council website at www.conservationwa.asn.au or by contacting the WACC on 9420 7266.