A Wake up Call Volunteers Lend a Big Hand in Spill by Ann Yasuda IBRRC Volunteer Coordinator Want to Help
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www.ibrrc.org Fall 2008 A wake up call Volunteers lend a big hand in spill By Ann Yasuda IBRRC Volunteer Coordinator want to help. What can I do?” These words were voiced daily from San Francisco“I Bay Area residents, and from other concerned Northern California residents watching in horror as local news agencies covered the oil spill that resulted from the Cosco Busan striking the Bay Bridge. Images of blackened beaches and helpless sea birds dripping with oil touched a nerve in local residents and emotions ran high as citizens wanted to know more about the spill and where they could go to help. When news spread about the Cosco Busan oil spill, our network volunteers and past oil spill volunteers im- Tiny victim: An Eared Grebe is washed of oil at IBRRC’s bird center during the November 2007 spill that hit mediately called offering their assistance. San Francisco Bay. A container ship spilled more than 50,000 gallons of oil. Photo: Russ Curtis – IBRRC The news quickly spread to the general public that IBRRC needed help and from Cosco Busan oil spill shakes up San Francisco Bay that moment on the phone lines rang non- By Jay Holcomb wake they leave opportunities for growth, stop for the next few weeks. IBRRC Executive Director improvement and reflection. In this case The tremendous number of convergent the opportunities included the promotion he Cosco Busan spill of November 7, volunteers and phone inquiries was stag- of better protection of the San Francisco 2007 is now a part of San Francisco gering at times but necessary to keep T Bay Area and an interest in improving all Bay oil spill history. Granted, its impact all the zones properly staffed and birds aspects of oil spill response in California. does not come close to that of the Oregon moving throughout the system. It was a These are the gifts, if you Standard oil spill in 1971 or humbling sight to see 150 to 180 conver- will, of this spill. An oil the disastrous effects that gent and network volunteers working the spill being called “a gift” the Apex Houston oil spill different areas during the peak of the oil may sound unusual or even had on birds in 1986. Both spill and seeing our facility challenged ridiculous but we at IBRRC of those spills left legacies by the sheer number of birds and humans have learned to look for that included the loss of in close quarters. As always, we were the opportunities that spills tens of thousands of aquatic impressed by all the stories of individuals provide, the silver lining birds that relied on the San willing to sacrifice their weekends, Francisco Bay Area for around them, and we have E refuge. The Cosco Busan oil gained a broader perspec- Continued on Page 11 spill is the first significant tive on oil spills. Let us be clear that we wish they oil spill in San Francisco Busy: Mark Russell of IBRRC Inside this issue Bay since the Cape Mohe- collects oiled birds in Berkeley. did not exist, but they do and will continue to occur gan spill in 1997. It acted New Pelican aviary: Page 3 as a wake up call for the as long as we transport public, government and response agencies petroleum products. So, oil spills and their as it renewed dormant concerns about the impacts are nothing new to us. Some of Eagles caught in goo: Page 4 environmental vulnerability of the San them have been so disastrous and horrific Francisco Bay Area. that they are still difficult for us to talk Unusual bird report: Page 8 about. We work the front lines of oil spills, Oil spills are just plain horrible but in their E Continued on Page 10 Page 2 International Bird Rescue Research Center On the Wing – Fall 2008 soon followed. IBRRC works with The When it rains, it pours International Fund for Animal Welfare By Jay Holcomb (IFAW), to provide response services for oil Jay Holcomb IBRRC Executive Director spills that impact wildlife around the world. Executive Director Although we have an awesome team of oil t has been a year since the Cosco Busan spill responders in South America, I went Barbara Callahan spill oiled birds and beaches in the San Director of Response Services down specifically to help work with the & IFAW Partnership Coordinator FranciscoI Bay area and began a series of large numbers of grebes and steamer ducks responses. As most Curt Clumpner that had been impacted along with over 200 Pacific Northwest Regional Rep of you know, IBRRC Director’s message Magellanic Penguins. James B. Lewis is no stranger to oil spills. Responding to oil Administrative Manager spills and rehabilitating birds and other ani- As this was commencing we experienced Russ Curtis Technology Manager mals impacted by spills is our unique legacy. another “natural seep” oil spill in Southern In fact, we have now California that kept our Laurie Pyne Development responded to over 200 oil already busy staff at the San Pedro Center busier and San Francisco Oiled Wildlife spills in the US and in 14 Care & Education Center different countries, which exhausted. These types of Fairfield, California probably fits somewhere in spills tend to show up after Michelle Bellizzi large storms that stir up Rehabilitation Manager the world book of records. I wish this were not so, be- natural seep oil. Marie Travers Assistant Rehabilitation Manager cause every spill is really That is how we ended 2007 an environmental disaster Great Grebe, Argentina Monte Merrick and brought in 2008. Oiled Rehabilitation Assistant & Facilities with consequences that are birds everywhere for three Manager just plain horrible and not always known for months, one event after another and many Vann Masvidal decades. To be associated with them just keeps Rehabilitation Technician demands on our clinics and staff. This is the us reminded of their deadly impact and that reality of our type of work. Ann Yasuda they exist and probably will continue to exist Volunteer & Membership Coordinator due to our use of petroleum products. We entered into the early months of 2008, Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care & Education Center The Cosco Busan spill was devastating to leaving the spills behind only to be hit with San Pedro, California wildlife in our precious Bay Area. IBRRC hundreds of sick ducks and grebes that were Julie King worked as part of the Oiled Wildlife Care not oiled but showing up along our coastline. Rehabilitation Manager Network (OWCN) to care for as many oiled Then spring hit and our clinics were filled Erica Lander with baby animals and the usual pelicans with Assistant Rehabilitation Manager birds as we could capture. Right smack in the middle of that spill we began receiving slimed fishing tackle injuries. Heather Henderson but clearly not crude oiled birds from what Rehabilitation Technician Because time has moved so quickly this year & Facilities Technician turned out to be a mystery event around the we decided to fill you in on what we have Heather Nevill, DVM Santa Cruz area. We more or less threw them Volunteer Veternarian been up to. We hope this will inspire you and in the mix and worked to rehabilitate them. Terry Wall inform you. Most importantly, we want you Administrative Assistant In early January we got wind of another large to know that it is because of your support Board Members mystery oil spill off the coast of Southern and kindness we have been able to do this Alice Berkner, IBRRC Founder Argentina and a request for our assistance important work. For this, we are very grateful. Dan Brumlik, Monterey, CA Ron Holten, Chevron Corporation Laurie Pyne, Chicago, IL Dave Weeshoff, Los Angeles, CA New IBRRC blog: A source for more bird rescue news On the Wing ust two days following the Cosco Busan spill on Novem- Vol. 6, No.1 Jber 9, 2007 IBRRC launched its first blog in an effort to Jay Holcomb & Laurie Pyne communicate more with its online supporters and the general Editors Russ Curtis, Design & Production internet community. Contributors: The site allows IBRRC to quickly post photos, videos and Michelle Bellizzi, Karen Benzel, Barbara Callahan, Russ Curtis, Jay stories about its bird rescue efforts. It also gives readers an Holcomb, Laurie Pyne, Marie opportunity to leave feedback and ask questions. Travers and Ann Yasuda. On the Wing is published annually by “Our hope from the start was to connect more deeply with IBRRC for its members, volunteers, readers on the importance of our work,” said Russ Curtis, industry contacts and supporters. IBRRC’s Technology Manager and the blog’s creator and editor. “It also gave us a place to IBRRC – On the Wing 4369 Cordelia Road vent our frustrations and the public’s anger over the bureaucratic snafus following the spill.” Fairfield, CA 94534 (707) 207-0380 See the blog: http://intbirdrescue.blogspot.com/ Online: www.ibrrc.org On the Wing – Fall 2008 International Bird Rescue Research Center Page 3 A place for the pelicans Community support helps build new aviary ach year 150 to 300 sick, injured, or oiled endangered Brown Pelicans are collectively admitted to our California centersE for treatment. Common pelican afflictions that we see are botulism, domoic acid poisoning, entanglement in fishing line, hook and other injuries and various illnesses. Our success with this species is very good as over 80% of the pelicans that we care for are released back into the wild. In 2002 we built a pelican flight aviary approximately 95 feet New: A 100-foot flight aviary at the Fairfield long, 15 feet high and 30 feet wide at our Southern Califor- center allows us to care for more pelicans.