Prevalence of oiled plumage of terns and skimmers on western long island, New York: Baseline data prior to petroleum exploration

Abstract

Observations at Long Island seabird colonies during the period 1969 to 1978 revealed a more or less constant prevalence of oiling of less than 1% for adult common terns and nearly 2% for adult black skimmers. Oiling was usually light (1–2 on a scale of 5) and very few heavily oiled birds were seen either at the colonies or elsewhere on Long Island's beaches. Currently oiling of seabirds on the Atlantic Coast of North America is not a widespread or serious problem compared with its prevalence on parts of the Pacific and Gulf Coasts of North America and in Europe. Data presented here provide a baseline for comparison with future years, since oil exploration began off Long Island during 1978 and large-scale exploitation is planned.