This Greater Shearwater corpse was found on the south beach during the June 2003 survey on Sable Island. It was not oiled or entangled. However, the primary feathers of both wings were cut cleanly away, as if snipped off with scissors. ZL hasn't seen similar damage in any other of the >500 carcasses of this species examined during the surveys.
Why was this done...? Did someone collect feathers from a dead bird found floating at sea? Or did some mariner catch a live bird, clip its wings and release it, knowing that the bird, unable to fly, would slowly starve?