By Claire Warrender

MYSTERY SURROUNDS the source of a major oil spill that has affected hundreds of birds in the Forth Estuary.

More than 100 oil-covered birds have been washed up along the Fife coast between Elie and Kirkcaldy, as well as on sections of the East Lothian shoreline, and around 500 more have been left stranded at sea. However, despite a major investigation co-ordinated by Forth Coastguard, no evidence of any pollution has been found and no one seems to know where the birds have come from.

Guillemots, eider ducks, razorbills and cormorants are among the species affected and many have already been taken to the SSPCA’s specialist bird-cleaning centre at Middlebank, near Inverkeithing, for treatment. Unfortunately, dozens more have had to be destroyed because of their poor state.

One theory is the spill may have occurred somewhere in the North Sea with the birds being washed into the Forth Estuary during recent high winds. However, John Mayston from Forth Coastguard was unsure, saying, “A lot of the birds found are eider ducks which are coast birds and which don’t go far out to sea.”

The Fife Ness-based watch officer said he and his colleagues had been led to believe there was an incident in the Forth late last week and added that samples of oil would be taken from the affected birds for analysis.

“These will be taken to a laboratory in Edinburgh and they can determine what sort of oil it was and what ship it came from,” he said. “If successful, they can identify a vessel—if it came from a vessel—and hopefully prosecute.”

As part of the investigation, which involves the SSPCA and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), a surveillance aircraft was flown over the Forth to try to ascertain the amount and possible cause of the pollution. Fife Council is also on standby to co-ordinate a clean-up should any oil be washed ashore.

“We do know there are up to 500 birds which are oiled and stranded on rocks but we can’t get to them,” said Mr Mayston.

“The aircraft is flying up and down the Forth and can find no oil spill at all. We are quite concerned for the wildlife and sensitive areas and we are trying very hard indeed to come to a conclusion.”

Doreen Graham of the SSPCA said the situation was critical and added, “Birds will try to preen all their feathers and as soon as they do that they ingest oil and it goes into their digestive system. If that happens, we give them a special charcoal compound to help attract the oil and minimise the damage to their internal organs.

“Birds’ waterproofing can be destroyed with one tiny drop of oil and this can cause them to sink or, especially at this time of year, they can die of hypothermia. It would appear this has been a very serious, illegal discharge of oil.”

So far injured birds have been discovered at Crail, Pittenweem, Elie, Lundin Links, Leven, Buckhaven, Dysart, Kirkcaldy, North Berwick, Longniddrie, Dunbar and Musselburgh.

Anyone who finds an oiled bird or any evidence of oil in the Forth should contact SEPA’s pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60.