What affect does do fireworks have on wildlife and the environment. Location is overwater with nesting birds?

Answer 1

I think it depends on the type of birds. Let's look at two extremes:

EAGLES: City of Kirkland's Special Events policy changes because of ELWAS's action.
Local resident Lynda Becher called ELWAS after the fireworks display of July 4th, 2005. The nesting eagles in her neighborhood screamed distress calls that night, and then were eerily silent for several days. She knew there were chicks in that nest. When she contacted ELWAS, we were able to connect her with resources at the city of Kirkland and the Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. We also followed up by contacting the city to express our concern, and continued to support Lynda through the entire process of dealing with the city on this issue. Eventually, the US Fish & Wildlife Service became involved as well.
After many meetings, phone calls and emails, the city of Kirkland decided to move the annual fireworks display to a less sensitive area, and changed their special events permitting policy to unclude gathering input from ELWAS before granting any permit that might have an impact on area wildlife.
The other good news is that the eagles returned to the nest and successfully.

PIPING PLOVERS:
On the nights of July 3 and 4, fireworks were visible and audible from the beach. On July 3, the West Haven fireworks did not appear to disturb the Least Terns, but the noise caused some movement of the Piping Plovers. On July 4, the programmed New Haven fireworks caused Least Terns to leave the colony only when the fireworks were extremely loud. However, before, during, and after the programmed fireworks, people on the sandy spit north of the colony were setting off personal fireworks, including noisy sparklers that stayed on the spit, and loud aerial fireworks that exploded over the colony. These caused multiple departures from the colony.

Of course, time off of the nest is much more critical for plovers than eagles. Their exposed eggs are very vulnerable, as are all ground nesters. So it depends. It also depends on how many people are going to be close to the water, also disturbing the nesting birds. They may do more damage than the fireworks!

Answer 2

The risks are similar to that to human beings. The greatest risk would ensue if the fireworks are carried out in close proximity to wildlife, including nesting birds, either on land or over water.

Answer 3

It's not so much the noise, as the debris that the fireworks creates. The spent shells contain dangerous amounts of carbon and unreacted gunpowder...and those chemicals leaching into the drinking water cannot do any good to the nesting birds.

Answer 4

I wouldn't do it. The noise may scare the older, nesting birds away, and frighten the babies out of their nest, if such animals have hatched. The result is that you have no more baby birds to grow into big birds. Either that or severly injured little birds that have no way to get back to where their parents may nurture them.

Your choice.

Answer 5

Fireworks do have a damaging effect to the enviornment and to wildlife. Many wildfires are started as a result of fireworks that damage or destroy the homes of many animals as well as humans.

Answer 6

i would say the fireworks would possibly scare the the nesting birds and be a fire hazard to the habitat

Answer 7

YES! It can flip them out! Natural elements like lighting strikes are predictable more so than fireworks. Nesting birds? You wouldn't, would you? Haven't you ever been hunting? Please try to find another spot!

Answer 8

it effects those greatly! bc they neither read nor practice fireworks safety. nesting birds and fish in the water are often scofflaws who create forest fires. then smokey bear gets on em them

Answer 9

the noise can scare incubating birds off their nest and in the dark and with the noise they may not return until morning and if it is cold out the eggs could "die" overnight.

Answer 10

Sound can make the membrain in an egg split so the birds must be effected.