De Nationale Olieslachtoffertelling, februari 1989

The National Beached Bird Survey of February 1989 was held on the weekend of 25/26 February and 323 kilometers were surveyed in the event. Winter 1988/89 was exceptionally mild and strong westerly winds predominated during December and February. The results are typical for these conditions: few grebes, wildfowl and waders; considerable numbers of auks. The birds found are listed in table 1 and the overall density observed in February 1989 is compared with previous counts in figure 1. Of all birds found dead, 58.7% were oil contaminated (n= 557). Most numerous were Guillemots (0.9/km, 88.5% oiled). Eiders (0.6/km, 21.0% oiled) and Larus-gulls (0.5/km, 23.9% oiled). The number of Guillemots is not particularly large compared with previous counts in the 1980s (figure 2), but it should be noted that the Guillemot strandings occurred rather early in the season this winter (Camphuysen 1989a). The low proportion of oiled Eiders follows a gradual decrease in numbers found oiled, starting in the late 1970s (Camphuysen 1989b). The number of Eiders to be found dead is still somewhat increasing; other factors causing death seem to contribute more and more. The low proportion of oiled gulls is caused by considerable numbers of unoiled gulls found in de Delta and in the Waddensea area. Of the gulls found on the mainland coast and on the Waddensea islands a considerable proportion was oil fouled (table 1).