As part of the natural resource damage assessment, the trustees conducted an avian egg exposure preliminary investigation for the Hudson River in 2002. They have now released "Data Report for the Collection of Eggs from Spotted Sandpipers, American Woodcock, Belted Kingfisher, American Robin, Red-Winged Blackbird, and Eastern Phoebe Associated with the Hudson River from Hudson Falls to Schodack Island, New York," dated September 17, 2004. This data report provides the results of the preliminary investigation of PCB contamination of select Hudson River avian species conducted for the assessment.

The investigation entailed collection of eggs from six primary species (belted kingfisher, American robin, Eastern phoebe, spotted sandpiper, red-winged blackbird and American woodcock) in the Upper Hudson River Valley from Hudson Falls to Lower Schodack Island, New York. The collection of egg samples from five additional avian species (Eastern screech owl, common grackle, northern rough-winged swallow, barn swallow and Eastern bluebird) was based solely on the opportunities for survey team members to locate the nests of these species.

A total of 168 egg samples were analyzed for 48 selected PCB congeners, PCB homologue groups, total PCBs, percent lipids, and percent moisture. Total PCB concentrations ranged from 20 parts per billion to about 56,200 parts per billion and varied by species and collection location.

The data report contains the work plan, the data quality assessment report, and the avian egg data sheets for the investigation in appendices.

The Final Avian Egg Data Report can be viewed and downloaded at the Service's Division of Environmental Quality Contaminants Web site.