These birds appeared in southeastern Newfoundland after southeast winds in the week following the Terra Nova spill. Among 409 carcasses recovered, "about 25" (actually 19) were tested and showed traces of bilge oil (not crude oil from Terra Nova). Interestingly, Environment Canada made an immediate statement to the press, that none of these birds had Terra Nova oil on them, after the initial testing of the small sample of corpses. However, the origin of the oil on the other c. 390 carcasses remains UNKNOWN and all were disposed of by Environment Canada with no possibility for further testing, effectively destroying the majority of the evidence. We will never know how many of the 390 untested carcasses had Terra Nova crude oil on them.

oiled Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia), Cripple Cove near Cape Race, Newfoundland, November 28, 2004 (ILJ photo)

oiled Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia), Cripple Cove near Cape Race, Newfoundland, November 28, 2004 (ILJ photo) same bird

oiled Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia), Cripple Cove near Cape Race, Newfoundland, November 28, 2004 (ILJ photo) same bird

oiled Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia), Cripple Cove near Cape Race, Newfoundland, November 28, 2004 (ILJ photo) same bird

oiled Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia), Ferryland, Newfoundland, November 28, 2004 (ILJ photo)

oiled Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia), Ferryland, Newfoundland, November 28, 2004 (ILJ photo) same bird