Oiled birds

Occasionally, COASST finds dead oiled birds on the beach. Very rarely, these birds are associated with a known spill in the area. In most cases, these oiling events are the only evidence of a mystery release of oil somewhere in the coastal environment. By documenting incidents of oiled birds, COASST is able to track the rate of chronic oiling. Fortunately, chronic oiling rates are low in all areas that COASST currently monitors. Data on oiled birds are presented in two ways:

First, by species, including the total number of birds of each species that was found oiled and the percent of all oiled birds represented by each species.

Second, by beach, including the total number of oiled birds found on each beach and the percent of all birds found on that beach that were oiled. For a breakdown of oiling data by year, please click the see species by year or see beaches by year links following each table.

Note: Only verified data used for this report

Species

Species Count % of Total Oiled
Common Murre 65 56.03
Northern Fulmar 16 13.79
Western Gull 5 4.31
Unknown 4 3.45
Western Grebe 4 3.45
Large Immature Gull 3 2.59
Rhinoceros Auklet 3 2.59
Short-tailed Shearwater 2 1.72
Black-Footed Albatross 2 1.72
Common Loon 2 1.72
Pacific Loon 2 1.72
Black-Legged Kittiwake 2 1.72
Brandt's Cormorant 1 0.86
Cassin's Auklet 1 0.86
Ancient Murrelet 1 0.86
Double-Crested Cormorant 1 0.86
Sooty Shearwater 1 0.86
Surf Scoter 1 0.86
TOTAL 116 Representing 0.34%
of all birds found
See species by year

Beaches with oiled birds

Beach Count % of total birds found on each beach
Marine View Drive 32 2.61
North Jetty 16 1.94
South Surfside 15 2.81
Ocean Park-South 6 0.74
South Taurus 5 1.00
Griffiths Priday State Park 4 2.07
Hobuck Beach 3 0.22
Agate Beach 2 0.17
Battery Point S 2 0.85
Shi Shi Beach 2 0.24
Long Beach - 143rd N 2 0.68
Copalis Rocks 2 0.20
OR Mile 196 2 0.25
Battery Point N 2 0.97
Kalaloch North 2 1.79
Cranberry Rd South 1 0.17
Westhaven 1 0.27
Staraya Artil 1 3.33
N. Head Lighthouse S 1 0.60
Sooes North 1 0.30
Ruby South 1 3.57
South Ocean 1 0.69
South Butter Clam 1 0.11
OR Mile 175 1 0.21
Second Beach 1 0.24
Boy Scout Beach 1 33.33
N. Head Lighthouse N 1 0.32
Twin Harbors 1 0.31
OR Mile 241 1 0.22
Kalaloch South 1 0.70
Ocean Park-North 1 0.56
Tenmile Beach 1 0.30
OR Mile 300 1 0.25
OR Mile 99 1 0.22
TOTAL 116 Representing 0.34%
of all birds found
See beaches by year