Birds: Both adding to the pollution and suffering from it.

Like these Canadian Geese, birds in the area flock to Mill Creek because it is such a large water source in our desert-like area. 

After seeing hundreds of birds living around Mill Creek while conducting pH tests, I wanted to learn all about how these birds were being harmed by the pollution in the creek. However, to my surprise, the birds are actually adding to the pollution in many cases. 

Yes, the birds are still being negatively effected by the pollution in the water. The toxins that runoff into the creek will bioaccumulate and be consumed by the birds, where the toxins will then living and accumulate in their systems. Because many of the pollutants are carcinogenic, they have lots of negative bodily effects on the birds and the birds' reproduction.

However, by flocking to these areas, the birds are also creating a problem in the water. Bird feces acts the same way as fertilizer in the water. Bacteria eat the organic waste, and during this process they also use a significant amount of the oxygen in the water. Lower dissolved oxygen in the water leads to other aquatic animals not having sufficient oxygen to survive. Bird waste is considered an "organic macro-pollutant" in water sources. 

So, while I still do pity these little geese for living in a polluted area, they aren't exactly helping. Even though large portions of the organic waste in Mill Creek come from other sources, such as fertilizer from farm runoff (which will later be discussed), the birds here aren't making things better. 

Sources:

Gobel, P., Dierkes, C., & Coldewey, W. G. (2007). Storm water runoff concentration matrix for urban areas.Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 92(1-2), 26-42. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169772206001938