Government and Industry Underestimating Number of Migratory Bird Deaths in Oilsands

The mortality rates of migratory birds in the bitumen tailings ponds in north-eastern Alberta is a primary source article co-written by Kevin P. Timoney and Robert A. Ronconi. The report states that when bitumen is extracted using the open pit mining method tailings are produced; this happens when the bitumen is separated from the earth. “The tails, a mixture of process-affected water, residual hydrocarbons, brine, silts and clays, and metals are discharged into tailings ponds” (Kevin P. Timoney & Robert A. Ronconi, 2010). The birds that are migrating or just happen to be flying over these areas get confused and think that the tailings ponds look just like the ponds found in nature. They land in these ponds, become oiled and later die (Timoney & Ronconi, 2010). What Timoney and Ronconi discovered is that in north-eastern Alberta the mortality rate of migratory birds is much higher than the industry and government was stating. The secondary source article is from the Montreal Gazette and was written by Jodie Sinnema; who is reporting Timoney and Ronconi’s research and their findings. Sinnema also reports statements from others who agree with Timoney and Ronconi’s findings and those that refute their findings

The primary source makes many more claims than the secondary source. Timoney and Ronconi claim that the mortality rate of birds in the bitumen tailings ponds in north-eastern Alberta is much higher than the government has been reporting. They also claim that the industry reports are not very accurate, as well as their procedures for collecting data is lacking. There is an absence of detail in government reports and these reports are not matching up with those of the industry (Timoney & Ronconi, 2010). Timoney and Ronconi predict that there will be an increase of mortality rates of these birds and therefore the government needs to take responsibility and enhance the research and protection of the migratory birds that are crossing the tailing ponds. Claims from the secondary source by Sinnema state that the industry is underestimating the deaths of birds in the bitumen tailing ponds in northern Alberta and the numbers are actually 70-77 times higher than the industry in claiming. Another claim that is inferred is that we can not trust the information that the government is giving us on the oilsands industry (Jodie Sinnema, 2010). Both articles claim that the number of birds dying in the Alberta oilsands is much higher than government and industries reports are stating. What does not match up is that Sinnema is suggesting that we cannot trust the information that the government is giving us about the oilsands and that is not what Timoney and Ronconi had actually stated in their report. They said specifically that the data that the government collects about migratory bird mortality is inaccurate. The secondary source is implying that all the information about the oilsands cannot be trusted, but the scientific report is very specific to migratory bird deaths and not the entire operation.

One of the big differences between the claims made in the primary and in the secondary source is that Timoney and Ronconi back up their claims with a lot more information and solid data then Sinnema. In the primary source there are charts, calculations, maps and tables. Timoney and Ronconi also refer to other scientist’s research to support their findings, whereas Sinnema just states quotes from “reputable” people.

There are more limitations to the secondary article than that of the primary article. The claims and findings of Timoney and Ronconi can be used in a number of different disciplines where as the secondary could only be used in a few. The primary source has so many claims that its information could be used in a large number and variety of different secondary articles. A secondary article could be written about how the government’s reports cannot always be trusted, or that the methods that industry uses to collect information about the environment is bias. Articles could be written about how the tailings ponds are cruel to animals, or that if we continue to extract our natural resources at the rate which we are doing so now it will result in a mass loss of biodiversity. Finally an article could simply state that the government is not doing enough to protect migratory birds in the oilsands. The newspaper article is very specific to the fact that more birds are dying than what industry and government stated and that we should not always trust the governments results. More can be said and concluded from the newspaper article, but not as much as can be taken from the primary source.

The fact that the newspaper is a secondary source limits its use, because it is only one person’s point of view and has not been peer-reviewed. They can take only parts of the information from the original report that supports their article if they wish. They can also twist things around to make it appear that the scientific report supports their own ideas even if it does not. It is most often better to use the primary source that has the raw data rather than an article that is just one person’s interpretation of the data and results.

The research and report from Kevin P. Timoney and Robert A. Ronconi had a lot more claims and less limitations then the newspaper article by Jodie Sinnema. Both were about the same research, however they had similar and yet different conclusions. Not everything that the newspaper stated reflected the thoughts of the scientists and not everything that the scientists said and claimed was in the newspaper article. Both were effective for their particular audience and that is why the same research could be presented with different inferences and claims.

By Tara Wilson

Works Cited

Sinnema, Jodie. "Bird Death Totals Don't Add Up: Study." Montreal Gazette - Breaking News, Quebec, Opinion, Multimedia & More. The Edmonton Journal, 08 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Sept. 2010. http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Bird death totals study/3495317/story.html

Timoney, Kevin P., and Robert A. Ronconi. "Annual Bird Mortality in the Bitumen Tailings Ponds in Northeastern Alberta, Canada." The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 122.3 (2010): 569-76. BioOne. Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Sept. 2010. http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.1676/09- 181.1?prevSearch=%5Bauthor%3A+kevin+timoney%5D&searchHistoryKey&q%09ueryHash=da26b469b0428c147d4484606775fb85