Beached Bird Survey is carried out in order to gather information about the mortality rate and death causes of the waterfowl staying in our coastal waters and to observe how sea polluton, especially the oil spills, affect the birds. In connection with that, the areas most suspectible to oil pollution and therefore the most dangerous ones to waterfowl are determined, and when necessary, the measures are taken to protect the birds. Also the possible alterations in the waterfowl mortality due to the changing environmental conditions are assessed. 

The problem of oil spills is continuously a common topic of concern, the solving of which is the object of a number of international conventions. The facts about mortal effect of oil spills on waterfowl constitute an essential part of these. In Western Europe the Beached Bird Surveys were initiated already in 1960s, and by now the survey methodology and the result report forms have been standardised. EOS carries out the surveys since 1992. In 1997, the project was included in the Estonian national program of biological monitoring. 

The surveys are carried out during the periods when the largest flocks of waterfowl halt in our coastal waters – in early spring, right after the ice drift, and in the autumn. In order to get analysable and comparable data, it is recommended to pick certain segments of coast to cover each year. During the past few years, about 200–400 kilometres of coast has been walked each year for the Beached Bird Surveys.