Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations My butt continues to be kicked by this bird!

Since no one seems to know the answers to these questions (except Catmandoo wrt water softener salt), I have done some research which I will happily pass on.


Table salt is iodized by adding a minute quantity of Potassium Iodide (KI) or Sodium Iodide (NaI) to our ordinary Sodium Chloride (NaCl). Since Iodine is heavier than Chlorine and, if Potassium Iodide is use, Potassium is heavier than Sodium, iodized salt is heavier than non-iodized salt (ref. Periodic Table of the Elements below).


Now, when I was a small lad, my Dad told me that to catch a bird, I should sprinkle salt on it's tail, making it too heavy to fly. Clearly, since iodized salt is heavier than non-iodized salt, it would require a smaller portion on a bird's tail to place said bird on a flight restricted status. Therefore iodized salt is preferrable to non-iodized salt.

However, Catmandoo notes

Now, if THIS is the case, non-iodized salt were be the preferred shaken item, since "this salt does not contain iodine, a necessary nutrient" (it says so right on the label!). If the bird consumes non-iodized salt when it turns it's head around, it will be on an iodine-deficient diet, making it much more susceptible to goiters. Have you ever seen a bird with a goiter that was able to fly?

BTW, did you know that the state of Michigan was once known as the heart of America's "Goiter Belt"?

So, it boils down to whoever was telling us the best line of B.S. when we were kids - Cat's dad, or my Dad.

On to the remaining question:

It turns out that sea salt is only suitable for catching seabirds. In the interest of brevity I will omit the research showing this; it is left as an exercise for the student. And I have it on very good authority that kosher salt is NOT for catching birds, but rather for catching fish. At least I have always heard that only kosher salt should be used on gefilte fish.