What is the primary justification for avoiding feeding freshwater fish to fish-eating marine birds?

• A. Taste difference
• B. High fat content
• C. Allergic reactions
• D. Exposure to new parasites

Answer: (D)

Feeding freshwater fish to fish-eating marine birds is avoided mainly to prevent introducing parasites and pathogens that these birds wouldn’t normally encounter in their marine diet. Freshwater fish can carry parasites adapted to freshwater ecosystems, and when a marine bird consumes them, those parasites can establish infections, jeopardizing the individual bird’s health and potentially spreading to other birds in care or after release. In rehabilitation, the goal is to minimize disease risk by keeping prey items aligned with what the species would naturally encounter. The other potential concerns like taste, fat content, or allergic reactions aren’t the primary issue here; the bigger risk is exposure to new parasites that the birds’ bodies aren’t prepared to handle.