Published: August 19, 2008 09:40 am      

Editorial: Bird die-offs are easing

The number of birds that have died of Type E botulism in northern Lake Michigan is down drastically from last year. Agencies that have been monitoring the situation warn that the reversal may be temporary.

For now, though, that's good news. Last year hundreds of dead gulls and cormorants and even a few terns and endangered piping plovers washed up on the shore. This year, fewer than 50 birds have been found.

Biologists believe the invasive quagga and zebra mussels and round Goby fish have helped alter the food chain in a way that allows naturally occurring bacteria to concentrate in birds.

There's hope that rising lake levels may help. Beyond that, there's not much humans can do except remove dead birds.