[thedoc (OP)]

Discharging of polyisobutene at sea has killed or injured 4,000 birds...

Read the whole story on our website by clicking here

 [chapter podcast=1000368 track=13.05.16/Naked_Scientists_Show_13.05.16_1000776.mp3] or Listen to the Story[/chapter] or [download as MP3]

[Jessica2008]

Birds can experience sudden death anytime, and most of the time, the cause is the food they intake. Toxic food kills birds instantly, and they must be kept from the avians.

[Origin]

Toxic food kills birds instantly

Except when it doesn't.  Sometimes a toxin will take a while to kill a bird.

[Petrochemicals]

Chemical build up in animals can be disasterous, usually exhibiting first in reproductive problems. The higher up the food chain the more concentrated the poison so alpha predators usually succumb first.

https://www.livescience.com/orca-whales-toxicology.html