Waterfowl Protection

On April 28, 2008, a large number of waterfowl landed on our Aurora settling basin, became coated in residual bitumen, and drowned. This was the first time in Syncrude’s 30-year operating history that an event of such magnitude had ever occurred. Previously, bird mortality counts averaged about 35 birds a year across our entire operation.

We sincerely regret the incident and resolve to prevent it from ever happening again. We have enhanced our waterfowl and duck protection program with additional resources and revised protocols to discourage waterfowl from tailing ponds areas.


	Waterfowl Trial For information on court proceedings and audio clips of interviews click here.


	Tailings Management Learn how new technologies are helping us better manage tailings.

In addition to keeping a deterrent system in place all year, the program includes:

During the spring, summer and fall seasons, we deploy 190 shore-based sound cannons at all tailings settling basins and areas of open water.

Staff, including a field wildlife advisor, are engaged year-round to observe areas of open water and to ensure bird and duck deterrents are in place.

Scarecrows and effigies are fitted with reflectors and placed in open water to deter waterfowl from landing.

A radar-based system will assist us in researching and responding to migration patterns.

Migration Monitoring System

We have purchased a radar-based migration monitoring system which will assist us in ongoing research of bird and duck migration patterns. This pilot project will enable us to analyze trends and adjust our deterrent system to ensure the best protection measures are in place. This system is in operation at some of North America’s largest airports.

Learn more at Accipiter Radar Technologies