Over 100 environmental organizations have filed a petition with the EPA asking the agency to ban lead shot used in hunting. Their petition estimates that up to 20 millions birds die every year from ingesting lead shot in the US alone. This includes swans, bald and golden eagles, condors, and over 70 other species. This is a national tragedy and a totally preventable one. With an alternative available, there just is no excuse for this to continue.
The use of lead shot for hunting water fowl was banned nationwide in 1991 due to lead poisoning deaths among water fowl and bald and golden eagles. Lead was a primary factor in the decline of the California condors in the 1980's and remains a threat to their recovery. California took steps to limit the use of lead to hunt big game and other mammals in 2008. Both these measures have produced positive results, but it isn't enough. The California measures need to be adopted nationwide.
Resources:
http://www.lead.org.au/lanv10n3/lanv10n3-1.html
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/25/2082149/up-to-20m-birds-eat-lead-die-per.html
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/condor/
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0017656
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