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 | 63 | 60.58 |
| Northern Fulmar | 14 | 13.46 |
| Western Gull | 4 | 3.85 |
| Western Grebe | 4 | 3.85 |
| Large Immature Gull | 3 | 2.88 |
| Unknown | 3 | 2.88 |
| Black-Legged Kittiwake | 2 | 1.92 |
| Black-Footed Albatross | 2 | 1.92 |
| Ancient Murrelet | 1 | 0.96 |
| Rhinoceros Auklet | 1 | 0.96 |
| Pacific Loon | 1 | 0.96 |
| Short-tailed Shearwater | 1 | 0.96 |
| Cassin's Auklet | 1 | 0.96 |
| Double-Crested Cormorant | 1 | 0.96 |
| Sooty Shearwater | 1 | 0.96 |
| Brandt's Cormorant | 1 | 0.96 |
| Surf Scoter | 1 | 0.96 |
| TOTAL | 104 | Representing 0.40% of all birds found |
Beaches with oiled birds
| Beach | Count | % of total birds found on each beach |
|---|---|---|
| Marine View Drive | 32 | 3.17 |
| North Jetty | 16 | 2.04 |
| South Surfside | 15 | 2.88 |
| Ocean Park-South | 6 | 0.82 |
| South Taurus | 4 | 0.97 |
| Shi Shi Beach | 2 | 0.27 |
| Hobuck Beach | 2 | 0.16 |
| Copalis Rocks | 2 | 0.23 |
| Long Beach - 143rd N | 2 | 0.96 |
| Agate Beach | 2 | 0.22 |
| OR Mile 196 | 2 | 0.33 |
| Kalaloch North | 2 | 2.15 |
| Cranberry Rd South | 1 | 0.21 |
| Battery Point N | 1 | 0.74 |
| Westhaven | 1 | 0.29 |
| N. Head Lighthouse S | 1 | 0.65 |
| Sooes North | 1 | 0.48 |
| Griffiths Priday State Park | 1 | 2.00 |
| Ruby Beach | 1 | 1.30 |
| South Butter Clam | 1 | 0.13 |
| OR Mile 175 | 1 | 0.32 |
| N. Head Lighthouse N | 1 | 0.43 |
| Second Beach | 1 | 0.26 |
| Twin Harbors | 1 | 0.30 |
| OR Mile 241 | 1 | 0.27 |
| Kalaloch South | 1 | 0.77 |
| Ocean Park-North | 1 | 0.68 |
| OR Mile 300 | 1 | 0.27 |
| OR Mile 99 | 1 | 0.30 |
| TOTAL | 104 | Representing 0.40% of all birds found |