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Volunteers and staff release another 16 birds on Nov. 5 at Coast Guard Station near Golden Gate Bridge. Larger image (Photo: Cheryl Reynolds) |
At least 267 clean, healthy birds treated at International
Bird Rescue's (IBRRC) Northern California bird center, have been released after treatment following the toxic algae event in the Pacific Northwest.
More than 400 birds were transported to IBRRC in late October 2009. Local wildlife rescue centers in Oregon and Washington were overwhelmed with epidemic numbers of wet,
cold, and dying sea birds soiled by unusual sea slime.
Originally IBRRC agreed to help and 150 of the slimed sea birds were driven Saturday from Portland, Oregon by van to IBRRC's Fairfield, CA bird center for treatment. Se: Sights and Sounds of Response
Later that same week, the U.S. Coast Guard lent a helping hand. Using a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, a crew flew an additional 300 seabirds birds from Astoria, Oregon to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. Members of an IBRRC response team flew on the flight and upon touching down, rushed the birds to Fairfield for treatment at the San Francisco Oiled Bird and Education Center co-managed with OWCN.
Note: Sad news about CG plane that helped on bird mercy flight
The birds treated at IBRRC include Grebes, Murres
Red Throated Loons, Pacific Loons, Common Loons and Scoters. View photos of birds in care
Ten thousands of birds may have died in the Pacific Northwest during this sea foam slime event. See blog entry
While the first transport was made possible through assistance from PETCO Foundation, the Oregon
Humane Society, and the Hedinger Family, additional costs will mount as these birds are seen
through the cleaning and rehabilitation process. See our thank you list
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Cleaned of toxic algae, Common Murres swim in recovery pools at IBRRC/OWCN wildlife center in Fairfield, CA on October 30, 2009. Larger image (Photo: Paul Kelway/IBRRC) |
Marine birds are suited for life on water, not land. To avoid additional harm while in care, they require
special housing, bedding, and swims in warm water pools. Even though their stay in captivity is
expected to be relatively brief (7-10 days), the cost to care for them will be exorbitant.
Because of the shear number of casualties, IBRRC is treating this emergency as an oil spill, with one significant difference – there is no oil. This means that there is no responsible party and therefore no financial support for our rescue effort. Read our urgent appeal
Donate or purchase merchandise
International Bird Rescue has seen an increase in unusual events like this one, sparking concern. In
November 2007, hundreds of soaked marine birds stranded in Monterey, CA. What was then a
mystery can now be blamed on an abundance of a certain phytoplankton – a harmful algal bloom
(HAB). The cause for their growing abundance is still in question.
In this case, a particular species of phytoplankton, typically seen off the coast of California, was
found in the northern waters in extraordinarily high numbers, potentially linked to warmer than usual
water temperature. Stormy weather churned the phytoplankton bloom into a soap-like foam. For
aquatic birds this can be deadly.
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After stabilization, birds are washed in a 1% solution of DAWN dishwashing liquid to remove algae foam coating their feathers. Larger image (Photo: Paul Kelway/IBRRC photo) |
It is the structure of a feather and their alignment that insulates a bird from water and wind – like
shingles on a roof. When something disrupts this, whether it is oil, dirt, or a surfactant such as this,
the bird is exposed to the elements and will quickly become saturated and cold. If they do not get to
land, they will drown, as many may have. Oil affects birds
Want to help? Please call our volunteer line at 707-207-0380 ext. 109.
As always, we couldn't do this without dedicated volunteers who helped with transport, cleaning cages, feeding birds and preparing meals for workers. Thank you list
In the News
Sea Slime Killing U.S. Seabirds: National Geographic
Sea slime killing seabirds off Oregon and Washington: Animal Planet
Rescue center aids hundreds of at-risk birds: SF Chronicle
Algae and Seabirds: Living Out Loud, Oregon Public Radio Mission to Save Migratory Birds: News 10
Survival takes flight: The Daily Astorian
Video: ABC7-TV report
Media contact:
Paul Kelway- IBRRC
(310) 691-9558
paul.kelway@ibrrc.org
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