Developing Oil from Canadian Tar Sands Could Kill 160 Million Migratory Birds by 2038
Extraction and refining heavy oil from Canadian tar sands will have increasingly devastating impacts on migratory bird populations, according to a new study.
According to a new report, the cumulative impact of developing Canadian tar sands over the next 30–50 years could be as high as 166 million birds lost, including future generations. Written by scientists from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Boreal Songbird Initiative, and Pembina Institute, the peer-reviewed paper suggests that avian mortality from continued development of Canada’s tar sands would provide a serious blow to migratory bird populations in North America.
“This report is yet another wake up call to the government in Alberta, as it confirms that the cumulative impact of oil sands development is on an unsustainable trajectory,” said Pembina Institute’s Simon Dyer, a contributing author to the report.
It is estimated that half of America’s migratory birds nest in the Boreal forest, and each year 22–170 million birds breed in the area that could eventually be developed for tar sands oil if the rate of development continues at it is currently planned.
“At a time when bird populations are rapidly declining, this report puts into perspective the far reaching effects of tar sands oil development on North America’s birds,” said the report’s lead author Jeff Wells, Ph.D. of the Boreal Songbird Initiative. “The public needs to understand the real and long-term ecological costs of this development and determine if this is acceptable,” added Wells.
In Alberta, tar sands mining and drilling causes significant habitat loss and fragmentation. Expansive toxic tailings ponds are protected by propane cannons that are used to keep ducks from landing in them.
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I was born and raised in Alberta, and I am ashamed by the inattention of the Alberta government regarding many environmental issues surrounding the tar sands. We make billions of dollars a year from the tar sands, and yet we can’t afford to implement measures to ensure things like this don’t happen. Very sad indeed.
Wow, thats so sad. Poor animals and all for the sake of oil.
jess
http://www.anonymity.at.tc
Hello, 160 milliion birds and perhaps a large portion of 6 billion human beings. Why isn’t the production and combusiton of oil from this or any other source recognized as criminal behavior given that there are viable alternatives? Carl Joudrie
This is propaganda. They have made up a story, then decided on the “facts” Firstly, there are no “tar sands” in Northern Alberta. There are oil sands. These are vast regions in vacant cold boreal forest. $150 oil with prospects of $300 oil prompted large scale projects and planning at an unprecedented rate. IF ALL of those went forward, AND the rate of change continued unabaited for 50 years several thousand square kilometers would be mining. But that is IF oil went to $300/b and conitnued to climb. That is If an unprecidented change in growth in development continued for 50 years! If you applied this logic to leaving a stop sign, you would break the speed of light in a few minutes!
There are good reasons to be cautious and prudent in development. Hyperbole and gross exagerations do not help anything. If you are concerned about birds, then wind turbines are your target as they kill thousands of times more birds the oil sands.
Bury the tar sands - let the birds live!
Use the sun for energy - oil is bad news. If that is not possible - walk!
Enough of befouling the planet and the creatures that roam on it.
Go green.
“including future generations” whata’ crock, over a long enough time line my fried egg sandwich deprived the world of one billion chickens.
By the same logic used here, wind mills will kill a hundred million birds (including future generations) over the next 100 years.
Who cares?
Just less bird sh*t I have to clean off my car.
Wow, thats so sad. Poor animals and all for the sake of oil..
My friend, a consultant working in the area, had this to say:
The bird issue is just the tip of the iceberg! The bigger issue is that the tailings ponds are all leaking. Yes, they are ALL leaking and the government and oil companies know it. Estimates range from 100,000 to millions of litres A DAY into the the Athabasca River and its tributaries.
Stop! Shake Head! Pinch oneself! How are we letting this happen!!!
Its unbelievable how hypocritical our environmental departments are. Somebody needs to sue the Alberta and Federal governmnts for not living up to their mandate and protecting the environment and the public. This is a disgrace both provincially, nationally, and globally.
Wow, thats so sad. Poor animals and all for the sake of oil…