FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Re: Shad die-off = gulls

[OLCOOT1@xxxxxxx]

Feb. 3, 2003

Gull watchers love shad die offs. It seems certain species of shad are 
affected by water temperature. Studies on these fish, especially Gizzard 
Shad, show that they cannot metabolize fat below a water temp of 39 degrees. 
The dead shad have fat reserves on their bodies but it is useless to them in 
that state. Like birds in migration that run out of fat reserves, their 
bodies look for energy in other areas such as muscle tissue and internal 
organs such as kidneys, livers, etc. The only way shad can make it through 
these periods is to utilize their organs for basal metabolism. Those shad 
washed up on the shore would show signs in these organs of emaciation but 
have fat layers on their bodies.  

Again only the fittest survive, the gulls get to eat in hard times and we 
birders get to feast on gulls concentrated in great numbers. 

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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