>We have some creosoted railroad ties near our birdfeeders.
>Sometimes the birds feed on seeds which fall on the ties.
>How dangerous is this to the birds' health? These ties are
>at least sixty years old, and they still have some creosote
>in them, altho I suppose not as much as formerly.
>
>Opinions, anyone?
>
>Alan Richards / Naselle WA 98638 / USA / alanr at orednet.org
>===================================================
I was at the Iron Goat Trail, which follows the old route of the Great
Northern Rwy over Steven's Pass last weekend. The old creasoted timbers
from the snow sheds lie in heaps on the ground. They are basically just
shredded fibers now, some 67 years after the route was abandoned. Yet
NOTHING except some moss grows on the rotting timbers.

Now, whether that observation indicates anything regarding danger to
your birds, I don't know...

There were many, many, many Townsend's Warblers up there, along with
Wilson's Warbler, Solitary Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Stellar's and Gray Jays, and Dark-eyed Junco.


== Michael Hobbs
== Redmond WA
== mikeho at microsoft.com