Alien in a Duck x-ray still a hit on IBRRC website

Three years ago this month a unusual image in a routine bird x-ray caused a major stir on the web that is still being felt today.

The x-ray of a injured duck showed what looked to be a facial image. After tremendous media attention, the original x-ray was auctioned off on eBay to help pay IBRRC's ongoing bird care. It was purchased by an online gaming concern: GoldenPalace.com buys eBay's extraterrestrial x-ray

"The alien x-ray is still one of IBRRC's most popular web pages," says Russ Curtis, the bird rescue's Technology Manager and Webmaster. "Our web reports show that in the last year alone the page had nearly 30,000 hits."

From the original web page:

The IBRRC staff discussed if an alien life form was either consumed by or trying to communicate with the people of Earth through the duck, because the center is located in an area of California known for its mysterious crop circles.

IBRRC staff noted that the symmetry of the alien's face is perfect, with an intense grimace, as if it was in anguish after being eaten.

You can also still buy Alien in the Duck t-shirts online through Cafe Press

Company admits 1,600 ducks died in oily waste

A Canadian company is under fire this week for under-reporting duck deaths at an oil sands plant in northern Alberta.

A Syncrude executive admitted 1,606 duck carcasses were collected from the toxic oily waters – three times more than was reported following the incident last year. The ponds contain waste from the process of separating oil from sand.

The birds died in April 2008 after becoming coated with the residual oil floating on the pond's surface.

The company was accused of failing to prevent the birds from landing near the oily waters. The mining giant is scheduled to appear next next month in a Fort McMurray court on charges that carry up to $800,000 in combined fines. The charges also could include jail time for individuals deemed directly responsible.

Syncrude says it's working to improve waterfowl hazing protocols in an effort to discourage waterfowl from tailing ponds areas: Details

Tar sand extraction is an important Canadian industry but environmentalists have criticized the process as having a terrible affect on birds. See: Tar Sands Mining Ravages Birds

News report:

CNN: Canada oil firm confirms 1,600 bird deaths