TY - JOUR
TI - Light-Induced Bird Strikes on Vessels in Southwest Greenland
AU - Merkel, F
AU - Johansen, K
T2 - Marine Pollution Bulletin
AB - Light-induced bird strikes are known to occur when vessels navigate during darkness in icy waters using powerful searchlight. In Southwest Greenland, which is important internationally for wintering seabirds, we collected reports of incidents of bird strikes over 2–3 winters (2006–2009) from navy vessels, cargo vessels and trawlers (total n= 19). Forty-one incidents were reported: mainly close to land (<4 km, 78%), but one as far offshore as 205 km. Up to 88 birds were reported killed in a single incident. All occurred between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. and significantly more birds were involved when visibility was poor (snow) rather than moderate or good. Among five seabird species reported, the common eider (Somateria mollissima) accounted for 95% of the bird casualties. Based on spatial analyses of data on vessel traffic intensity and common eider density we are able to predict areas with high risk of bird strikes in Southwest Greenland.
DA - 2011/11//
PY - 2011
VL - 62
IS - 11
SP - 2330
EP - 2336
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X11004644
DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.040
LA - English
KW - Lighting
KW - Birds
KW - Seabirds
KW - Waterfowl
ER -