 |
Makeshift
pools for oiled birds filled
parking lot at San Pedro bird
center (IBRRC photo) |
Tell a friend  |
More
than 1,400 birds, mainly Western
Grebes, came into the San Pedro,
CA center after an oil slick first
struck along the Ventura and Los
Angeles County coastline on January
13, 2005. As late as April 2005,
a couple dozen oil covered birds
were still showing up sporadically
in need of attention.
A little more than 200
birds were released back into the
wild. At least 300 of the birds
brought to the center died or had
to be euthanized.
This was the first major
test of the Los Angeles area bird
center. The permanent facility was
built with state funds and opened
in March of 2001. IBRRC manages
the center for the Oiled
Wildlife Care Network (OWCN).
It operates a year-round rehabilitation
program for sick and injured birds.
A small dedicated staff and a large
contingent of local volunteers help
make the non-profit San
Pedro center a valuable contribution
to the local wildlife community.
 |
Oiled Grebe on
net-bottomed caging at san
Pedro bird center. (Photo
© Robin Riggs) |
The spill proved to
be a stubborn mess. State Fish and
Game authorities are still trying
to determine the source of the oil.
Early reports tied the oil in the
water to the disastrous mudslide
that struck the La Conchita area
on January 11, 2005. The spill was
originally called the Ventura mystery
spill.
Feather samples from
oiled birds have ruled out other
sources of oil, primarily oil from
platforms off Ventura and Santa
Barbara coastlines. Officials think
the oil may have come from a broken
pipeline onshore. But that has yet
to be determined.
Update:
OSPR site
Some wildlife experts
believe that a total of 3,000 to
5,000 birds will ultimately be affected
by the spill. It's the largest California
spill in 15 years in terms of bird
injuries and deaths. The area that
was affected stretched from Santa
Barbara to Playa del Rey –
some 80+ miles of coastline.
 |
Oiled
birds in boxes await treatment.
(Photo © Robin Riggs) |
The birds most affected
in this spill were Clark's Grebes,
Western Grebes and Common Loons.
These are mostly species that float
or raft off shore where the concentration
of oil seems to be heaviest.
Birds that get oiled
and don't get treated quickly –
face a certain death. Without attention,
birds cannot thermo-regulate and
usually die within days. How
oil affects birds
After birds are captured
and stabilized, they are transported
to the nearest full-time rehabilitation
center. In this spill it is the
San Pedro bird center for treatment.
State officials warned
the public not to approach the oiled
birds, pointing out that grebes
have particularly sharp beaks. They
are advising people who came across
the birds to call (562) 342-7222.
If you do catch the
birds please put them in a big box
with air holes and a towel at the
bottom. See: You
found a bird, now what?
Read more: San
Pedro Center
– Compiled by
Russ Curtis/IBRRC with OWCN press
release help
About the IBRRC/OWCN
partnership:
The International Bird
Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) plays
two major roles within the Oiled
Wildlife Care Network (OWCN). First,
IBRRC acts as the lead oiled bird
response organization that, under
the management of the OWCN, responds
to most of the oil spills that affect
birds, reptiles and fresh water
aquatic mammals in California. Secondly,
IBRRC is contracted to develop and
teach a series of annual trainings
for OWCN participants. These trainings
are designed to familiarize members
with concepts in oiled wildlife
capture and rehabilitation. |
