ST. ALBERT, Alta. - Videos of dead and dying waterfowl covered with oil are being shown at the trial of Syncrude Canada on federal and provincial environmental charges.
The images show ducks struggling to move through thick, black gooey oilsands bitumen on Syncrude's tailings pond in northern Alberta.
Court has heard some of the birds were so covered in oil that experts couldn't tell the species or gender.
Court also heard that Syncrude had no boats on hand April 28, 2008, when 1,600 ducks landed on the massive tailings pond.
The next day, Alberta government inspectors went out in a boat and managed to save three ducks with a net, but most of the birds sank beneath the black toxic water within four to six hours.
Syncrude has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
