Avian Botulism

You haven't eaten in a while and you're really starting to feel hungry. And thirsty, too. You find a small pond on the beach, away from the shore. (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:green)[[Drink the tantalizing water]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:orange)[[Nah, I want to deprive myself of nutrients|Nope]]

You drink the water from the pond, which is unfortunately contaminated with bacteria. You contract avian cholera and die a few hours later. ''Bad Ending 2 of 4 '' [[Back|Keep looking around]]

Uh oh! The fish was infected with botulism from low oxygen levels in the lake. You have now contracted bacteria and will die in a few days. ''Bad Ending 1 of 4'' [[Back|The Beginning]]

This coyote is FIERCE. It hasn't eaten in days and it looks like it's willing to do anything at all to get what it wants. Which is the meat from your body. You get torn apart and eaten. ''Bad Ending 3 of 4'' [[Back|Nope]]

You make the wise decision to fly away. However, you are starting to lose strength from not eating or drinking, and eventually you have to touch down and rest. The coyote catches up with you, and it's out for blood. You don't stand a chance. You are killed by the coyote. ''Bad Ending 4 of 4'' [[Back|Keep looking around]]

You reach the turtle and drag it out of the water with your beak. You consume it and receive nourishment from the hearty meal. It's starting to get dark. (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:green)[[Go to sleep]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:orange)[[Look around some more]]

You find a tree a little ways away from the shore, and stand underneath it. You watch the sunset and start to drift off to sleep. You dream of seafood restaurants. ''Good Ending 1 of 2'' [[Look for other endings|Keep looking around]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:blue)[[Sources]]

You made the right choice! That fish was infected with botulism from the low oxygen levels in the lake. [[Keep looking around]]

The other pelicans are delighted to see a newcomer. You receive a warm welcome, and are inducted into their colony. Congratulations, you have found a new home. ''Good Ending 2 of 2'' [[Look for other endings|Keep looking around]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:blue)[[Sources]]

You continue looking around the shoreline. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot a dead turtle in the water. (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:green)[[Fly towards the turtle]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:orange)[[Continue onward]]

You fly out over the lake and notice an outcropping of rocks on its surface. There's a colony of pelicans on there. Will you join them? (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:green)[[Join your kind]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:orange)[[Fly back to shore and go to sleep on your own|Go to sleep]]

For some reason, you don't want to eat or drink anything. Maybe you're feeling a bit sick, or maybe you're just tired of living. Oh look, there's a coyote. (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:green)[[Engage in battle]] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:orange)[[Flee]]

* California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Karen Riesz, Salton Sea Birds * U.S. Geological Survey, P. Nol, The epizootiology of type C botulism in fish-eating birds at Salton Sea, California * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Threats to Birds: Disease

It's the spring of 1996, and you are a pelican migrating north. You make a stop at the Salton Sea in California, which you pass each year on your route. You're feeling hungry, and you see a fish that has washed ashore. It looks strange. Do you eat it? (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:green)[ [[Eat the fish]] ] (b4r:"solid")+(b4r-colour:orange)[[I'll pass]]