from Kuwait's Mina Ahmadi terminal, was expected to impact on the 
southern coast and offshore coral islands. In fact, an estimated 95% of the 
mainland coastline was clear of recent oil deposits and all the islands, 
except Bubiyan, which had small deposits on its northeastern coast, had 
escaped pollution. 
The most polluted shoreline was that of the entire Sulaibikhat Bay 
subsystem, where a 10-metre wide band of fresh oil had been deposited 
at the highwater line. Fortunately, the extensive intertidal mudflats, 
critical feeding grounds for waders in winter and on passage had been 
spared. However the major roost at the Doha Reserve, which is used by 
hundreds of Crab Plovers Dromas ardeola and thousands of Lesser Sand 
Plovers Charadrius mongolus, Kentish Plovers C alexandrinus, Grey Plovers 
Pluvialis squatarola and Ringed Plovers C hiaticula amongst others, was 
heavily polluted. Although it was too late in the migration to observe 
large numbers of waders, it can safely be assumed 3\at most of those 
using the site would have become oiled. 
Four species of terns breed on Kuwait's southern islands (Swift Sterna 
bergii, Lesser Crested S bengalensis, Bridled S anaethetus and White- 
cheeked S repressa) and a census taken on 19 May, when nesting had just 
commenced, indicated that numbers were similar to those of the last two 
censuses, in 1990 and 1987. Less than 1% of all terns (10 species were 
recorded) showed noticeable oiling, a figure comparable to that obtained 
in Saudi Arabia. 
Inland, pollution from leaking oil wells in all the main fields was 
extensive and worsening daily, some of the numerous lakes having 
grown to several square kilometres. Lakes and streams of oil appear to 
have been mistaken for water by birds and at one small lake over 200 
dead or dying individuals were counted, including herons, ducks, 
hawks, sandpipers, sandgrouse, nightjars, bee-eaters, hirundines, 
wagtails, shrikes and warblers. 
2 
