Slugs and snails are dying in large numbers: Now they should be counted

In most cases, people visit the beach to swim or to get a breath of fresh sea air.

However, in the last weekend of February, you may encounter a flock of beachgoers with a more somber reason for seeking the water's edge.

Here, the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF) conducts a large census of dead seabirds.

- We want a picture of how many birds are coming ashore, and which species, says Simon Christiansen, a nature guide in DOF.

According to ornithologists, it is birds such as gulls and terns that frequently wash up dead on the Danish coast.

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Problem in multiple locations

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In recent years, there have been numerous cases of mass deaths among seabirds in the North Atlantic and in Denmark.

Simon Christiansen and DOF will use the census to find out why.

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How the birds should be counted

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- The bird census project is called SUPRE, which stands for Seabirds Under Pressure, which can be translated to 'seabirds under stress'.

- The large census takes place in the last weekend of February. In addition, a smaller group of volunteers will collect birds throughout the year, which are sent for autopsy at Aarhus University.

- The project is financed by the Velux Foundation.

- According to DOF, more than three million seabirds overwinter in Danish waters.

- Seabirds are quite vulnerable to climate change, and it will not become easier when there is plastic debris and old fishing gear and oil floating around.

According to DOF, it is especially along the Jutland west coast and coasts facing the Kattegat that the dead birds are found.

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Fishermen should think about it

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It is typically in winter, the birds come ashore, and therefore the dead birds should be counted in the weekend of February 28 and March 1.

- For example, if a gull is tangled in fishing line, or an albatross has been in contact with oil, we can see what has harmed it, says Simon Christiansen.

He hopes that the bird census can lead to fishermen and others thinking more about and avoiding polluting.

- When we show how big the problem is, it might have an effect on those who pollute. Most of the fishermen I know don't want to kill seabirds.

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