Post‐release survival of oiled, cleaned seabirds in North America

Abstract

The number of days between ringing and recovery of oiled, cleaned and released seabirds was extremely low, usually a matter of a few days or weeks, and for three species was 5–100 times lower than for non‐oiled birds. For oiled, cleaned Guillemots Una aalge , postrelease life expectancy was 9.6 days and long‐term recovery rates were 10–20% of those of non‐oiled birds. Measures of survival were not greater for oiled birds treated in recent years with modern methods. The cost and effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts for oiled seabirds need to be reexamined in the light of results showing low post‐release survival.