A Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis with patches of oil on its underwing and axillaries. In the 1993-2002 study on Sable Island most oiled birds observed came ashore as corpses. A very small proportion of oiled birds were alive when found. During the surveys, all seabird corpses and fragments found were examined, and marked or removed from the beach. Species identification, corpse condition, and presence and extent of oiling were recorded for each corpse.