A biology professor at Memorial University says the major impact of water pollution on marine birds is damage done to their feathers.

Dr. Ian Jones says you can see the effect on the shoreline and inter-tidal zone, both completely clogged with this sticky residue that will suffocate and kill all life, as well as potentially being highly toxic.

He says it’s harmful for marine birds, not necessarily because of them eating it and being poisoned. but because it damages their feathers’ integrity to create insulation.

Dr. Jones says that is how oil spills kill birds, and it doesn’t matter if its crude oil or vegetable oil, it’s all harmful.