The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

Great shearwater, Puffinus gravis
This is a visitor form the southern hemisphere where it breeds on the islands
of Tristan da Cunha. The birds migrate in the southern winter to the northern
hemisphere’s summer, where they stay, mainly on the Grand Banks and
the West Greenland banks until September.
They occasionally occur in high densities in the assessment area (Fig. 4.7.5),
although their numbers seems to vary a great deal from one year to another.
High numbers of moulting birds with reduced flying abilities have been reported
(Salomonsen 1950) and such concentrations will be highly sensitive
to oil spills.
The great shearwater is listed as Least Concern (LC) in Greenland
(Boertmann 2007) and is also considered as of Least Concern (LC) on the international
red list (IUCN 2010).
Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
The cormorant breeds in small colonies usually with less than 100 pairs.
Within the region these are found in the northern half, with Evighedsfjorden
as the most important area. In 1995 the population numbered about 160
pairs (Boertmann & Mosbech 1997), but this is probably much higher today.
At least the population has expanded to the south and coverage now includes
the Godthåbsfjord (AU unpubl.).
The outer coast of the assessment area is an important winter habitat for
cormorants, including breeding birds from areas further north in West
Greenland (Lyngs 2003). A significant part of the entire Greenland population
is found within the assessment area (Boertmann et al. 2004).
The cormorant population in Greenland is probably isolated from other
populations. It has a favourable conservation status, and it is listed as Least
Concern (LC) on the Greenland Red List (Boertmann 2007).
The population has a relatively low sensitivity to oil spills due to the many
dispersed colonies and a high recovery potential. Furthermore, cormorants
spend relatively little time on the sea surface, as they do not rest on the water
like other seabirds. This has to do with their plumage not being ‘waterproof’.
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
The mallard breeds mainly in freshwater habitats, but also at sheltered marine
shores. However, in winter the mallards are dependent on the marine
environment. They assemble in shallow coasts and where they would be
very sensitive to oil spills.
The conservation status is favourable and the species is listed as Least Concern
(LC) on the Greenland Red List (Boertmann 2007). The Greenland population
constitutes a distinct and endemic subspecies.
Although sensitive to oil spills, the Greenland mallard population would
probably recover quickly from increased mortality. This appears to be the
case when the mallard population occasionally suffers from high winter
mortality due to harsh winters.
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