Volume 56, Number 3 November 2010 Experiences During the Louisiana Gulf Oil Spill ◆ Jay Holcomb In February 1971, two tankers collided beneath the Golden Gate Bridge spilling 900,000 gallons of crude oil into San Fran- cisco Bay. Little was known about oiled-bird care but volunteers from all over the bay showed up to try. Out of 7,000 oiled birds, 300 birds survived. Within months, the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) was formed. The primary goals of the IBRRC were to develop oiled wildlife cleaning and rehabilitation techniques, provide ongoing research, and provide oiled wildlife response management capabilities during oil spills. In 2001 the IBRRC moved from Aquatic Park in Berkeley to its 12,000 square foot reha- bilitation facility in Fairfield shared with the California Department of Fish and Game. Dr. Sharon K. Taylor, a veterinarian with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dan Alonso, the Jay Holcomb, Executive Director, joined Aransas National Wildlife Refuge manager, and others release a crate of brown pelicans into the IBRRC in 1986. He has either led or the wild, June 27, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Brazzell. been on staff for virtually all IBRRC spill responses since 1986, including the M/V Jay’s assistant, Laurie Pyne, gives us a BIRDING INFORMATION Treasure oil spill in Cape Town, South Af- glimpse into their adventures. “The Gulf Jimm Edgar, President of Mount Diablo rica in 2000 and most recently, the April 20 oil spill was unprecedented in its scope Audubon, will take a lead from his good Gulf oil spill. Jay will share with us his four- and size. At the end of April, the first team friend, Maury Stern, who spoke last month month experience in the Louisiana Gulf. members were mobilized to Buras, Loui- about classification changes and the Ameri- siana. An old warehouse at Fort Jackson can Ornithological Union. Jimm will talk Meeting Schedule became our headquarters. Although right about the scientific names of seven unique next to the Mississippi river, it took weeks The next general meeting of birds and share with us the pleasure of Mount Diablo Audubon Society to get pumps to fill the outdoor pools with knowing the meanings of these Latin names. will be Thursday, November 4, in water from the river. The sweltering heat The binomial genus-species name defines the Camellia Room of The Gardens overcame many of the workers and we had the bird, sometimes by color, sometimes by at Heather Farm, Walnut Creek. to snake-proof the recovery pens. As we honoring an original describer, sometimes 7:00 pm Birding Information were far from civilization, supplies were by geographic location, sometimes by a 7:25 pm Announcements difficult to find. The oil was tough and habit of the bird. The acceptance of a single 7:40 pm Refreshments,* door prize birds initially came in completely coated 8:05 pm Speaker: Jay Holcomb worldwide term for each species makes it * Please remember to bring a cup. with it. Methyl soyate was unavailable so possible for scientists, regardless of the lan- Thursday, December 9: we had to resort to canola oil and straight guage they use, to know the identity of any Dawn™ marinades to get the oil off of the Note that this is the second-not the bird with which they are concerned. It also first-Thursday in December! birds.“ provides a simple way to revise names and to Continued on Page 2 » allow for future inclusion of new knowledge. DEDICATED TO HABITAT CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the Quail —1— November 2010 President’s Corner Jay Holcomb By Jimm Edgar » Continued from Page 1 I am encouraging everyone to strongly “Because of hurricane warnings, on July consider a yes vote on Proposition 21, the 23rd, we were moved to a fully functional measure that would add an $18 fee to our facility in Hammond, Louisiana, offering car registration fee and in so doing make plenty of outdoor pens with clean pools. all of our State Parks free admission. It Washing and rehabbing the birds became would also put $500 million into the State easier. Most of the birds that came to us in Park system each year to be used for main- the beginning were Brown Pelicans, includ- tenance and other deferred issues. About ing babies, which were the cutest things $150 million would be freed up from the in the world. The ‘show stealers’ had to be state budget to be used for other needed the Roseate Spoonbills. Other species of items such as education. birds that were washed and rehabbed were Our long-time Conservation Chair, Laughing Gulls, Tricolored Herons, Black- Nancy Wenninger, has had to step down crowned Night-Herons, Sandwich Terns, due to increased job responsibilities. We are Royal Terns, Black Skimmers, Clapper trying to form a conservation committee to Rails, and the Great Egrets, to name a few. serve in this vital role for the chapter. Two Each species had its own requirements for people have stepped forward and we would housing and feeding. The team members like to have at least two more. This group were very creative in designing as natural a would probably meet 3‒5 times a year and habitat as possible for each species as they consider particularly local conservation is- awaited release.” Two brown pelicans take flight after being sues and how the chapter should respond. released at Sanibel Island, Florida. U.S. Please let me know if you might want to Q Coast Guard photo. help on this very important committee. Jay managed the entire 6-month We had another great program on rehabilitation program caring for October 7 at Heather Farm. Larry Arbanas over 1,600 birds. showed us excellent videos done for Cornell Lab of Ornithology showing birds of south- Q Welcome ern Texas. Quite spectacular! Our birding Jay Holcomb began his career in animal New Members information time was done by member rehabilitation at the Marin Humane Society, Maury Stern on the many changes taking helping to found the wildlife rehabilitation Lecia Gwen Atil Lafayette place in the AOU (American Ornithologi- program at the Marin Wildlife Center in Bob Christensen Oakley cal Union) checklist. San Rafael. He responded to California oil Burton Nicodemus Richmond Our program chair, Alice Holmes, ar- spills during the 1970s and early 1980s as a ranges for both main programs and birding volunteer before joining the staff of IBRRC information each month. She has had some during the ARCO Anchorage Spill in 1986. difficulty in getting birding information During the Exxon Valdez Spill (1989), Jay presenters. These times are usually done pioneered the search and rescue program in These birds primarily by our members and can be about anything Prince William Sound, the largest of its kind breed throughout central having to do with birding. Our chapter has ever attempted. In addition, Jay managed Canada and the United an extensive slide collection that we are the entire six-month rehabilitation program States although some are resident about to convert to DVD, which means you, caring for over 1,600 birds. Jay has served in Contra Costa County. They then as a presenter, would have access to great on the Board of Directors for the National disperse to almost every part of the bird photos. Please consider doing one of Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and continent, and yet they are seldom the talks this coming year. Usually 10‒15 the International Wildlife Rehabilitation seen in flight, as they migrate at night. minutes is all that is needed. Council, an association of wildlife rehabili- During the breeding season, this bird I hope you take advantage of the service tators and centers. Jay was president of that has a dark ring around its chicken- our chapter provides to the East Bay in par- organization for eight terms. In 1996 he was like bill. ticular, but also to the entire birding world. awarded the NWRA Lifetime Achievement East Bay Birders Sightings is a Yahoo groups Award, the highest award given in the field Unscramble these letters, or turn to page and you can subscribe for free. You of wildlife rehabilitation, recognizing his Page 7 to learn more. will receive e-mails usually every day about pioneering efforts and dedication to wildlife BBDDEEEEGIILLPR what has been seen in the East Bay. You can conservation. also report what you may have seen. As the fall migration unfolds you never know what The Quail is published monthly except January and August by Mount Diablo Audubon Society, will turn up. It is fun to read every day. P.O. Box 53, Walnut Creek, CA 94597-0053. The Quail is printed on 30% post-consumer waste recycled paper. The deadline for the December-January issue is November 16. the Quail —2— November 2010 Lewis’s Woodpeckers were at Round Observations Valley RP 9/21. DW. Beep! Beep! By Maury Stern It’s Monday morning, August 30, Western Wood-Pewees were in 11:30 am, Brentwood, near the Deer Submit Contra Costa County sightings to Mitchell Canyon and Heather Farm 9/15. Ridge Country Club. Jane Chinn and three [email protected] or (925) 284-5980 or WK, HH, FS. send to EBB [email protected]. friends look out from their window and are A late Willow Flycatcher was at Bay- astounded to see a Greater Roadrunner! The past month has seen the last of view Trailhead, Point Isabel on 9/28. CP, ES. It walked along the backyard fence, ran a migrants passing south and the return of was at Inspiration Point Say’s Phoebe few feet, then stood on a rock as Meredith many winter residents.