Bird kill at an oil industry flare stack in northwest Alberta

Abstract

R. 1987. Bird kill at an oil industry flare stack in northwest Alberta. Canadian Field-Naturalist 101(3): 346-350. Approximately 3000 migrating passerines died within 75 m of a 104 m oil industry flare stack in northwestern Alberta during late May 1980. The birds died during a period of unsettled weather including periods of rainfall, cloud, fog, and reduced temperature. All identified birds were passerines and included five families and at least 24 species. The presence of pulmonary congestion and edema in specimens examined and the proximity of the birds to the flare stack suggested deaths may have been related to stack emissions. Examination of specimens indicated that death from striking the tower or guy wires, burning in the flare, or toxic agents (contacted previously) was unlikely for the majority of the casualties. Recommendations to minimize the occurrence of bird kills at flare stacks and to assist in documenting the occurrence and significance of such mortalities include processing and selling sour gas rather than flaring, mandatory reporting of bird kills at industry flare stacks, contigency plans to ensure quick and thorough analysis of dead birds and increased evaluation of methods used to detect traces of gaseous irritants in animals.