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

The puffins are migratory, but their whereabouts in winter are unknown,
although recoveries of ringed birds indicate the waters off Northeast Canada
(Lyngs 2003). In the autumn high numbers of puffins have been recorded in
offshore waters of the southern part of the assessment area (Fig. 4.7.14) and
these birds are probably birds from breeding colonies outside Greenland
(Iceland, Norway) (Boertmann in press).
Several colonies further north in West Greenland have decreased and the
Greenland puffin population was therefore assessed as Near Threatened
(NT) on the Greenland Red List (Boertmann 2007).
Puffins are highly sensitive to oil spills both on individual level and on population
level (Boertmann et al. 1996, Boertmann in press) and they are most
vulnerable at the colonies where high numbers can be assembled on the water.
Little auk, Alle alle
This is the smallest of the auks, but the most numerous of the seabirds in the
North Atlantic. It does not breed within the assessment area, but is a numerous
autumn/winter visitor (Fig. 4.7.15). However, the species is difficult to
survey due to the size and the knowledge on winter abundance distribution
is therefore inadequate (Boertmann et al. 2004).
Little auks are very sensitive to oil spills and large winter concentrations
may suffer from high mortality if hit by oil spills.
The Greenland population is assessed as Least Concern (LC) on the national
Red List (Boertmann 2007).
White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
The white-tailed eagle is a resident species along the coasts of the assessment
area (Fig. 4.7.16). Pairs breed scattered in archipelagoes and fjords and the
total Greenland breeding population in 1990 was estimated at 150-170 pairs
(Kampp & Wille 1990). The population today is probably of the same size,
but information is lacking.
Although not a seabird, white-tailed eagles take their food from the marine
environment, mainly fish and birds, and may become exposed to oil spill by
contact with the water and from ingesting contaminated food. Several bald
eagles (a close relative to the white-tailed eagle) were killed (estimated approximately
250) by the oil after the spill in Prince Williams Sound in 1989
and the population here recovered within 6 years (Bowman et al. 1997).
However the density of eagles in Prince William Sound is much higher than
in West Greenland, indicating that a recovery from oil induced mortality in
Greenland would be much slower, and that the eagle population is more
vulnerable.
Due to the small population the white-tailed eagle is listed as Vulnerable
(VU) on the Greenland Red List (Boertmann 2007). The population is isolated
from other populations and thereby particularly sensitive to increased
mortality.
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