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Volunteers wash an oiled Scaup in Cordelia, CA center after it was rescued from the San Francisco Bay oil spill. Another wash photo (Photo: Russ Curtis/ IBRRC) |
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A container ship's collision with the San Francisco Bay Bridge on November 7, 2007 caused a large spill of 54,000 gallons of bunker fuel oil that coated birds and other wildlife. As of January 15, 2008, 1,084 oiled birds arrived at the bird center in Cordelia.
(Aftermath of Cosco Busan spill updated on IBRRC's blog)
At least 424 cleaned birds have been released back in the wild. Birds are being set free at Heart's Desire Beach in Tomales Bay. This at the Point Reyes National Seashore area about 40 miles north of San Francisco and at Pilar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, 25 miles south of San Francisco. Some birds are being released at Crissy Field near the Golden Gate Bridge.
More than 2,500 birds died in the spill. Wildlife biologists fear that more than 20,000 birds may ultimately perish from the disaster. They believe thousands of birds landed in the oily bay and then left the area to die elsewhere. Some also may have been eaten by predators. San Francisco Chronicle story
Following the spill many oiled birds were collected on the bay and on beaches stretching north up to Marin County and south along Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Surf Scoters, Scaups and Grebes seem to be the most affected by this spill. Also, two raccoons were found dead.
During the spill, the Coast Guard closed 30 beaches: Ocean Beach, Angel Island, Crissy Field, Kirby Cove, Black Sand Beach, Rodeo Beach, Fort Point, Muir Beach, Fort Baker and China Beach, Tennessee Valley, Keller Beach, Point Isabel, Ferry Point, Cesar Chavez Beach, Middle Harbor and Shimada Park. Some beaches may have been reopened. SF Chronicle spill coverage
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1,084 |
1,858 |
653 |
421 |
FDIF birds: 939 visibly oiled, 854 unoiled and 25 unassessed. (As of 1/15/08) |
Bunker fuel spills are extremely toxic to marine life, especially birds that float and feed through a spill. The oil inhibits the birds ability to thermo regulate and they become cold as their natural insulation in their feathers break down. The birds spend most of their time trying to preen the oil out of feathers and thus ingesting the oil. Weakened, they will often beach themselves and fall prey to predators or die from the toxic effects of oil. See: How oil affects birds
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Washing oiled birds during the San Francisco Bay spill at Cordelia, Ca bird center. See larger image (Photo: Russ Curtis/IBRRC) |
IBRRC was activated immediately to search and rescue birds affected by the spill. The Bay Area based non-profit has a long history of helping oiled wildlife. The organization began in 1971 when two tankers collided in SF Bay spilling 900,000 gallons of oil. Since then the organization has become an expert in the field of wildlife search and collection, stabilization and the washing of oil from affected animals. IBRRC has worked on 150+ spills worldwide partnering with other groups to to train responders in Africa, Europe, Asia and South America.
Locally IBRRC is part of California's Oiled Wildlife Care Network. Any oiled animals will be brought to the OWCN's San Francisco Bay Area wildlife center for treatment. The center is managed in partnership with IBRRC. It's located near the junction of highways 80 and 680 in the Cordelia/Fairfield area. Directions
IBRRC & San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center
4369 Cordelia Road
Fairfield, CA 94534
(707) 207-0380
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One of the many oiled Scoters is examined after rescue from the San Francisco Bay oil spill. (Photo: Courtesy SF Chronicle) |
Background
On Wednesday November 7, 2007 the Cosco Busan container ship side swiped one of the western anchorages of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. The ship leaked bunker fuel oil after a gash was discovered in its port side. The 810-foot vessel was headed out of Oakland and bound for South Korea when it hit the bridge in heavy fog around 8:30 AM. The bridge did not suffer significant damage and traffic continued to flow on the span.
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The Cosco Busan anchored in San Francisco Bay after striking the Bay Bridge on the foggy morning of Nov. 7, 2007. Note gash in the mid section of ship. Another photo. (Photo: US Coast Guard) |
This is this worst spill in the area since 1996 when the Cape Mohican spilled 40,000 gallons of fuel oil into San Francisco Bay near Pier 70.
The most severe spill inside the San Francisco Bay occurred in 1971 when 900,000 gallons of oil spilled after two oil tankers collided in the fog near the Golden Gate Bridge. See: IBRRC history
The largest spill in area waters happened in 1984 when the Puerto Rican, spilled 1.5 million gallons of oil in the open ocean off the Golden Gate in 1984. In contrast the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska spilled 11 million gallons of oil. Some members of the IBRRC response team spent six months helping save wildlife in that spill.
Please remember: Do not attempt to wash, feed or house oiled birds and other animals! Spilled oil is extremely toxic. The use of proper gloves and protocols must be followed to insure the safety of the public AND the animals.
Important phone numbers:
Report oiled wildlife: (415) 701-2311 or (707) 207-0380 ext 110
Report oil sightings: 985-781-0804
To submit a claim for oiled property: 888-850-8486
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OSPR Incident Map: Cosco Busan San Francisco Bay spill 11/11/07. Larger image |
Media contacts:
Kyle Orr, Department of Fish and Game (916) 825-7120
Sylvia Wright, UC Davis and OWCN PIO (530) 752-7704
Karen Benzel, IBRRC Public Affairs (831) 622-7588
News stories:
PBS News Hour report: Podcast 11/21/07
Questions on oil spill grow; bird toll rises: Sacramento Bee
Dozens of birds killed: San Francisco Chronicle
Impact to felt for years: Oakland Tribune
Oil Spill Spreads in San Francisco Bay: New York Times
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