it's not an oil spill, but it's bad

So far reports say 'scores' of dead birds have been identified in San Francisco Bay as a result of the recent oil spill. Bad enough, but back in the Traverse City, MI area -- hundreds are washing up dead and the likely culprit is invasive species in still-uncontrolled ballast water of oceangoing vessels.

EASTPORT -- State officials confirmed that hundreds of dead birds that washed ashore in Antrim County died from Type E botulism poisoning.

Residents from Elk Rapids to Eastport are reporting another wave of rotting loons, mergansers and gulls along Grand Traverse Bay. Test results from 20 carcasses collected two weeks ago near Elk Rapids confirmed state officials' suspected cause of deaths.

Meanwhile, more birds are showing up dead, locals said.

"Almost every day there are fresh ones. There's easily a dozen carcasses scattered down the beach here," said Joan Heizer, who lives in a lakeshore house near Eastport. "It's disturbing to see it and I wonder why it's happening. It doesn't seem like a normal occurrence."

http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_317093209.html