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Update: Three charged in tern massacre
O n
June 28, reports of dead baby
terns on the shores of Long
Beach sent wildlife rescue
professionals and vets from the nearby
International Bird Rescue Research Center
(IBRRC) to investigate. What they found
was shocking and horrifying. An
estimated 300-500 baby terns,
some only a day old, were
dead in the surf, and littering
the beach. 13 live baby terns were found
and rushed to intensive care at IBRRC’s
center in San Pedro. The baby birds drowned
because they had not yet grown enough
feathers and could not float,
or fly.
The next night, Thursday, June 29, a second barge the terns were nesting on was moved. On Friday morning hundreds more dead and dying tern babies littered the same beach.
A total of 24 baby terns were rescued alive. One had to be euthanized because it had a broken wing. 405 dead birds were collected and are being kept as evidence.
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Hundreds
of terns nested on this
anchored barge when
they were hosed off
the barge in the harbor
off Long Beach, CA.
(IBRRC photo) |
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has posted a $10,000 reward. Anyone with information that may help investigators should call Special Agent Erin Dean at 310-328-1516.
IFAW and IBRRC work closely in partnership responding to oil spills and other disasters that affect animals around the world. IFAW also donated $5,000 to help defray the cost of the long term care of the survivors.
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Inspecting
dead baby terns that
washed up on the shoreline
in Long Beach, CA. (IBRRC
photo) |
Approximately 2,000
Elegant and Caspian terns nested
in a breeding colony near Long
Beach. The colony has been a tourist
attraction in the area and was
known for its status as the northern-most
colony of terns. Terns are migratory
birds that winter in Central and
South America and breed mostly
on small islands off the coast
of Baja California.
About IBRRC
IBRRC has been helping
birds around the world since 1971.
Its mission is to mitigate human
impact on aquatic birds and other
wildlife. This is achieved through
rehabilitation, emergency response,
education, research, planning and
training.
About IFAW
Founded in 1969,
IFAW works around the globe to
protect animals and their habitats
and to create a better world for
animals and people. See: IFAW website
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 Opinion:
From the LA Times
Could the deaths
of thousands of terns in Long
Beach have been prevented?
Video
reports:
CBS-TV
report
Two weeks before massacre colony is alive and thriving
CBS-TV
Report
June 28, 2006:
Hundreds of baby terns wash up dead
NBC-TV
Report
Reward offered in case
of baby Terns washing up dead
Print stories:
Long Beach Gazette
Investigation
Continues In Terns’ Deaths
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