Answer: acute toxic effects of consuming high levels of lead
Explanation: Studies have shown that birds suffer lead poisoning following direct ingestion of spent lead gunshot from the environment or of ammunition-fragments embedded in their food. Lead poisoning is caused by consumption and accumulation of lead which is a highly toxic metal and a very strong poison. Lead poisoning is usually a serious and sometimes fatal condition.
The California condors' deaths were a result of acute lead poisoning which means from intense/high consumption over a short duration rather than chronic which is from repeated low-level exposure over a prolonged period.
