Temporal Trends of Organochlorine and Perfluorinated Contaminants in a Terrestrial Raptor in Northern Europe Over 34 years (1986–2019)

Fourteen legacy organochlorine (OC) contaminants and 12 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were measured in eggs of tawny owls (Strix alueco) in central Norway (1986–2019). We expected OCs to have reached stable equilibrium levels due to bans, and that recent phase-out of some PFASs would have slowed the increase of these compounds. ∑OC comprised on average approximately 92% of the measured compounds, whereas ∑PFAS accounted for approximately 8%. However, whereas the ∑OC to ∑PFAS ratio was approximately 60 in the first 5 years of the study, it was only approximately 11 in the last 5 years. Both OC pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) showed substantial declines over the study period (~85%–98%): hexachlorocyclohexanes and chlordanes seemed to be levelling off, whereas p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) and hexachlororbenzene (HCB), and most PCB congeners still seemed to decline at a more or less constant rate. While the concentration of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), the dominating PFAS, was reduced by approximately 43%, other perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs) showed only minor changes. Moreover, the median concentrations of seven perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) increased approximately five-fold over the study period. Perfluorononanoic acid and perfluoroundecanoate acid, however, seemed to be levelling off in recent years. In contrast, perfluorododecanoic acid, perfluorodecanoate acid, perfluorotridecanoic acid, and perfluorotetradecanoic acid seemed to increase more or less linearily. Finally, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was increasingly likely to be detected over the study period. Hence, most legacy OCs and PFOS have not reached a lower threshold with stable background levels, and voluntary elimination of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates still has not resulted in declining levels in tawny owls in central Norway

The impact of climate sensitive factors on the exposure to organohalogenated contaminants in an aquatic bird exploiting both marine and freshwater habitats

To assess how climate-sensitive factors may affect the exposure to organochlorines (OCs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), we monitored concentrations in eggs of the common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) over two decades (1999–2019) in central Norway. The goldeneye alternates between marine and freshwater habitats and is sensitive to climate variation, especially due to alterations in ice conditions which may affect feeding conditions. We assessed how biological factors such as diet (stable isotopes δ13C and δ15N), the onset of egg laying, and physical characteristics such as winter climate (North Atlantic Oscillation: NAOw) influenced exposure. We predicted compounds to show different temporal trends depending on whether they were still in production (i.e. some PFASs) or have been banned (i.e. legacy OCs and some PFASs). Therefore, we controlled for potential temporal trends in all analyses. There were declining trends for α- and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), oxychlordane, cis-chlordane, cis-nonachlor, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p.p′-DDT) and less persistent polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (e.g. PCB101). In contrast, the dominant compounds, such as p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) and persistent PCB congeners, were stable, whereas hexachlorobenzene (HCB) increased over time. Most OCs were positively related to δ15N, suggesting higher exposure in birds feeding at upper trophic levels. Chlordanes and HCB were positively associated with δ13C, indicating traces of marine input for these compounds, whereas the relationships to most PCBs were negative. Among PFASs, perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) declined. Most PFASs were positively associated with δ13C, whereas there were no associations with δ15N. Egg laying date was positively associated to perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), suggesting that some of the PFAS load originated from the wintering locations. Although NAOw had little impact on the exposure to organohalogenated contaminants, factors sensitive to climate change, especially diet, were associated with the exposure to OHCs in goldeneyes

Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica fishing in a freshwater lake to feed its chick

We present details for the observation of an adult Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica collecting food in Lake Linnévatnet (78°02’N 13°48’E), the second largest freshwater lake in the Svalbard archipelago, on 11 August 2020. The bird was seen frequently diving and accumulating fish in its bill. All circumstances considered, we think the bird intended to feed a chick in the nearby Vardeborg colony. This is the first published record of a breeding Atlantic Puffin searching for food in freshwater. We discuss this finding in the light of the scarce information available on the species’ feeding ecology in high-arctic breeding areas.publishedVersio

Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica fishing in a freshwater lake to feed its chick

We present details for the observation of an adult Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica collecting food in Lake Linnévatnet (78°02’N 13°48’E), the second largest freshwater lake in the Svalbard archipelago, on 11 August 2020. The bird was seen frequently diving and accumulating fish in its bill. All circumstances considered, we think the bird intended to feed a chick in the nearby Vardeborg colony. This is the first published record of a breeding Atlantic Puffin searching for food in freshwater. We discuss this finding in the light of the scarce information available on the species’ feeding ecology in high-arctic breeding areas

Fugletårn, fugleskjul og fuglestier - anlegg for økt naturopplevelse. Veileder for prosjektering av publikumsanlegg og eksempler på tilrettelegging for gode fugleopplevelser i Norge og internasjonalt

Dette heftet er laget som en del av prosjektet “Fugleturisme i Midt- og Øst-Finnmark”. Målet var å lage en praktisk veiledning for turistbedrifter og andre som ønsker å legge til rette for gode fugleopplevelser gjennom bygging av publikumsanlegg i naturområder. Vi tror at det er viktig å legge til rette for gode naturopplevelser for folk flest. Gode opplevelser knytter folk og natur tettere sammen, og vi tror at mennesker som får gode naturopplevelser også vil bidra til å ta vare på naturen. Vi har valgt å legge vekt på de enklere skjulene og tårnene slik at kostnadene ved bygging skal bli så lave som mulig. De fleste turistbedriftene innen naturbasert turisme i Norge har lite penger å investere i publikumsanlegg. Enkle anlegg gir kanskje ikke de største estetiske opplevelsene i seg selv, men de gir like fine naturopplevelser som dyrere anlegg. Fuglene er ikke først og fremst opptatt av anleggenes utseende, men at de er plassert og utformet slik at de ikke forstyrrer fuglene

Plastic burdens in northern fulmars from Svalbard: Looking back 25 years

The northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis ingests a larger number of (micro)plastics than many other seabirds due to its feeding habits and gut morphology. Since 2002, they are bioindicators of marine plastics in the North Sea region, and data are needed to extend the programme to other parts of their distribution areas, such as the Arctic. In this study, we provide data on ingested plastics by fulmars collected in 1997 in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. An extraction protocol with KOH was used and for half of the birds, the gizzard and the proventricular contents were analysed separately. Ninety-one percent of the birds had ingested at least one piece of plastic with an average of 10.3 (±11.9 SD) pieces. The gizzards contained significantly more plastics than the proventriculus. Hard fragments and polyethylene were the most common characteristics. Twelve percent of the birds exceeded the EcoQO value of 0.1 g

Plastic burdens in northern fulmars from Svalbard: Looking back 25 years

peer reviewedThe northern fulmar Fulmarus glacialis ingests a larger number of (micro)plastics than many other seabirds due to its feeding habits and gut morphology. Since 2002, they are bioindicators of marine plastics in the North Sea region, and data are needed to extend the programme to other parts of their distribution areas, such as the Arctic. In this study, we provide data on ingested plastics by fulmars collected in 1997 in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. An extraction protocol with KOH was used and for half of the birds, the gizzard and the proventricular contents were analysed separately. Ninety-one percent of the birds had ingested at least one piece of plastic with an average of 10.3 (±11.9 SD) pieces. The gizzards contained significantly more plastics than the proventriculus. Hard fragments and polyethylene were the most common characteristics. Twelve percent of the birds exceeded the EcoQO value of 0.1 g