Hundreds Of Oil-Covered Birds Flooding Into Louisiana Wildlife Center

NEW ORLEANS — A wildlife rescue center in Louisiana says it has gotten more than five times as many oily birds in the past few days than in the previous six weeks combined.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported Wednesday that the center at Fort Jackson has reported a little more than 400 birds since the BP well in the Gulf of Mexico blew out April 20.

The report says more than 350 of those have been reported since Thursday.

Oil from the leak has washed up on shores from Louisiana to Florida. The Coast Guard has said the cleanup could ultimately take years.

Comments

[FREEDOM BELL]

03:37 AM on 06/11/2010

Today, on TV, I saw a national guards man tell a media person to go away from a beach or oil covered bird. How dare our national guard protect BP and take orders from BP. Like the FAA has been. These things are happening and the gov. and BP just deny it. Our government is working for BP.

I doubt Obama will do anything to set anyone's mind at ease this next week. BP should already be in receivership. There should already be an injuction against BP giving $10.5B to their shareholders. If BP has made $17B - $20B each year for the last 10 years, is that before or after dividends? After? How much have they paid in dividends each year of the last 10 years?

[VeganSue]

08:53 AM on 06/11/2010

Yes, and THIS administration has changed NOTHING. Obama appointed Salazar in charge of MMS, he rode in to MMS (federal office that oversees the OIL industry) with his cowboy hat and literally said there is "a new sheriff in town". MMS is based in Colorado. Guess they have "sheriffs" out there.

Obama promised in 2008 that he would BAN OFFSHORE DRILLING. He COULD have, at the very least, reinstated oversight when HE made the DEAL with BP for the operation of the oil rig that exploded.

The WARNINGS and RED FLAGS were numerous. (READ Rolling Stone article).

I'm a liberal but I'll be damned if I'm going to let our elected representatives off the hook for their inaction and involvement in "the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history".

EVERY life deserves SAVING. That German biologist that has said "kill them" or let them die used to work for an OIL COMPANY.

The PR MACHINE for BP is out now full force. BP does not want to PAY for the expense of these organizations rescuing the wildlife.

Obama or Congress or someone needs to put the bastards in RECEIVERSHIP now and SEIZE their assets. Halliburton ran the rig, TransOcean owned it and our government (MMS) had oversight (?) but ultimately BP owned the oil and the operation.

[loki]

01:44 AM on 06/11/2010

Im puzzled by something. Tonight on Discovery channel they did a special on the spill. During this special they said that the US Coast Guard were the ones spraying the disbursements for BP with Coast Guard aircraft. This posed to immediate questions in my mind. First of all, why would the Coast Guard do this and not BP? The second was if the EPA was asking BP not to use the toxic disbursements, and BP ignored the request, why would the US Gov allow the Coast Guard to spray what was being called by the US gov as to toxic to use? This spill has done one thing for sure. Its all but proven that the US gov does nothing without approval from the Ivy Greed Capitalist first,an the US gov controls nothing. Ivy Greed Corporations control everything in the USA. doesnt matter what party the politicians claim to be in, they are in the puppet party of Corporate greed.

[FREEDOM BELL]

03:26 AM on 06/11/2010

Good questions. Fanned! Our government works for BP.

[spunkychick]

12:50 AM on 06/11/2010

Save all the birds we can... I love the brown pelicans here in eastern Florida. Cleaned pelicans are arriving daily to join their cousins here.

I don't mean to be mean here, but the Gulf coast states (except FL) made a choice to allow oil drilling off their shores... many environmentalists reminded voters this was not a good idea, but money talks and the enviro's are ridiculed there. Even after accepting oil drilling, these states had an opportunity to require strict guidelines for drilling and also to purchase & require clean-up equipment (which are fairly frequent on a smaller level esp. after storms). Here in FL we've been fighting off-shore drilling, but were losing the battle until now.

[femmyror]

03:57 PM on 06/10/2010

Meanwhile BP CEO Tony Hayward "wants his life back".

[spunkychick]

12:52 AM on 06/11/2010

I have a feeling Hayward will be gone shortly. Just a hunch. Then he'll retire and enjoy his $millions and it won't be on the Gulf of Mexico!

[mirodog]

02:42 PM on 06/10/2010

To make matters worse, most of the birds have filed claims with BP only to have the claims denied because the birds allegedly didn't attach proper documentation of their losses.

[blackphoebe]

11:41 AM on 06/10/2010

here is the problem... I am a biologist and oiled wildlife expert.... you cant release those birds back to the habitat as there is none left. the fish are dead. The marshes are covered in oil We need bioremediation now. But even then even if you make the marshes non toxic the fish are dead.... so what to do? Well demand BP out of the gulf they are a sham, criminals.... demand 100s of tankers to suck up the oil at the source and all over the gulf. demand stop the poison corexit That is what has killed and sunk all the wildlife... you dont see them which is what BP wanted. And demand bioremediation of the water and the coast.... then you might get regeneration of biotic life and you might eventually be able to release the birds.... maybe

[had2fish]

12:09 PM on 06/10/2010

Just a thought here, but why wouldnt you take them to a different coast?

[JohnFromCensornati]

12:19 PM on 06/10/2010

That is a good idea only if those species live on that different coast.

[VeganSue]

01:16 PM on 06/10/2010

I believe they are finding safe areas to return the birds and wildlife to once they are rehabbed.

The rescue organizations have experience with this and would not return them to the oil slicks.

[spunkychick]

12:40 AM on 06/11/2010

LA Oiled, cleaned & tagged pelicans are being released in my area of FL near Cape Canaveral/Merritt Island on the east coast. The same species of brown pelican live plentifully in this area and there are plenty of fish all along the coast here for a couple of 100 miles - much of the coastline is protected federal and state wildlife refuge. The Merritt Island area is protected from the ocean so hopefully we won't get oil in the inlet lagoons. Sebastian Inlet is another pristine area for our new resident pelicans... they'll find many new friends.

I too have thought of the homing instinct, and also we've talked about the fact that some of these birds probably had active nests in LA. I pray Mother Nature will make them feel welcome here.

[VeganSue]

09:05 AM on 06/11/2010

Thank you for that information. I have also read that the birds are being released in the Tampa Bay area after being rehabilitated.

A biologist for the University of Davis and other experts have said that we must do what we can to save the wildlife. Wouldn't someone want their cat or dog helped, or a person covered in oil? Even if ONE life is saved, it matters.

Please don't believe BP's PR spin machine that is sending out negative information so they won't have to PAY for the HELL they have created for animals in the Gulf.

Help by contributing to these wildlife rescue organizations if you can.

[VeganSue]

10:18 AM on 06/10/2010

Sorry, but I would not take the recommendation of a German biologist that WORKED for an OIL COMPANY who says to kill all the wildlife. Is she connected to BP? Are they sending out their PR machine to minimize their costs?

CONTRIBUTE if and what you can to these angels of mercy that are doing the work for those of us who cannot get out there.

-- Audubon Society has teams on the ground helping with the clean-up. You can donate by visiting https://loon.audubon.org/payment/donate/OILSPILL10.html .

-- Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research is the organization which treated the first oiled bird discovered in this spill. To support their efforts with a donation, visit http://www.tristatebird.org/donations .

--The New Orleans-based Audubon Nature Institute has positioned triage units in the affected areas to treat any affected sea turtles or marine mammals, such as sea otters. You can support their efforts by making a donation at http://www.audubontransactions.org/support/fund1.php or by calling 504-861-5107.

--The International Bird Rescue Research Center has a team of specialists prepared to assist with rescue efforts. If you want to volunteer, they suggest calling the BP Community Support Team Hotline at 866-448-5816.

-- Mobile Baykeeper , based in Alabama, is an environmental group participating in cleanup efforts. They are currently taking donations to support their work related to the spill on their website at http://www.mobilebaykeeper.org/support-join/donate

[hurrikan27]

01:21 PM on 06/10/2010

I think judgement calls must be made on each bird depending on exposure and condition. If birds are severely ill from ingesting oil then the stress of human contact will only make it worse.

It is very sad and I don't think anyone wants any of the birds or other wildlife to die. This is a tragedy as awful as could be imagined but it has happened and we have to do what is possible and best for the animals.

F* BP... they say they will pay for it all but they probably don't have that ability even if they wanted to. It predict bankruptcy for lack of cash and some financial swindling to make sure the rich investors and rich executives get richer and leave the world poorer.

[spunkychick]

12:43 AM on 06/11/2010

VeganSue, I certainly agree. We owe it to these magnificent birds to give them a second chance. Some may sicken and die, but some will survive. Of course, the brown pelican will become almost extinct in Louisiana, Alabama, and western Florida, but hopefully we can keep them flying here on the east coast of Florida.

[Soulmentor]

09:51 AM on 06/10/2010

I have a suggestion. Instead of volunteers, make BP pay wages to anyone helping the wildlife and other clean up in any way. That wouldn't eliminate but would help to alleviate the spill resultant jobs crisis in the area.

[had-enough]

10:45 AM on 06/10/2010

BP will not allow ANYONE to help the poor marine life. You show up to help and you are arrested or escorted AWAY! BP is doing a lousy job, animals mean nothing to them, life is not important. Just $$$$. They have hired their own people who have signed confidentiality contracts to work w/BP. Americans not wanted there with cameras or eyes!!!!!!

[VeganSue]

01:15 PM on 06/10/2010

This is SO freaking messed UP!

We DEMAND that Obama take RECEIVERSHIP now.
You are absolutely right - BP will do ANYTHING to protect their own butts from liability.

Somehow, though, the wildlife organizations are getting the birds to rescue. I hope the fishermen and anyone out there does what they can to HELP the defenseless WILDLIFE.

[GranE]

11:10 AM on 06/10/2010

So far no one is making BP do anything it appears. The news on only one dock and the shrimp they bring to market is hit with $17 million dollar loss already. That's one shrimp dock, in one place, in one state. How about paying off the boats sitting idle and 10 years income for all fishermen for starters. Second, pay all the oil workers currently working including welders, suppliers, and rig workers for 10 years wages. Then employee those people to clean up the wildlife and wetland. They are the people who care the most and would do a good job. BP is not going to do a good job, they were irresponsible to begin with.

[edva]

09:24 AM on 06/10/2010

Any sane person knows this is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg. Despite the noble efforts of the rescuers, mankind cannot fix what it is destroying. The worst is yet to come.

[urnumbersix]

09:21 AM on 06/10/2010

Don't jump on me, I'm an environmentalist. I am Outraged!

But, my gut reaction, reading this article and seeing the coverage on rescuing wildlife is:

SAVE THEM, FOR WHAT?

To put in a Zoo?
Where are they supposed to go when they recover?
Their habitat is permanently destroyed!!!

Of course individual wildlife should be saved, but it's like the Photo Ops showing the recovery of a starving child in Africa. Yes, it brings attention to the issue -- but we see, time and again, that such stories mollifies (especially Americans) people into thinking that "something is being done and everything will be alright" when no such reality exists. It sure "feels good" to witness a single survival, right?

I get it. Death is hard to deal with. But the truth is that thousands of animals Are Dying and Dead in the Gulf. And much more to come. Forgive me for being a cynic, but I just pray that Americans don't get sucked up into the "recovery story" to the detriment of the Real story of death and permanent destruction.

I am not trying to be Debbie Downer - but let's keep Focused people.
This situation is cataclysmic!

[suzc]

09:49 AM on 06/10/2010

They have two endangered species. They MUST try and save some of them.
They are releasing the brown pelicans to a safer place in FLA.

[had-enough]

10:45 AM on 06/10/2010

Safer for how long????

[blackphoebe]

11:37 AM on 06/11/2010

hi urnumber six please go to facebook gulf oil disaster support circles and join. then we can talk directly. I am an environmentalist too and it seems like some how people are just not getting it. More than cleaning oiled birds we have to 1) get tankers, 100s , to suck up the oil and contain the leak 2) stop the corexit... a friend just went to Ed show live in Or and Eddie said oh well Thad Allen says the corexit isnt so bad...... jeezzzz us, and 3) we need large scale bioremediation on land and water. In texas spillfighters.com say they did this and in three days saw a turn around in the marshes and on the water THREE DAYS only issue is the corexit as well as being antifreeze and toxic solvent is also a bod agent so suffocates everything in the water and also an endocrine disrupter. Did you se the info about lots of dead birds, dolphins turtles coming ashore in tx fl etc not oiled just dead and way abovr normal numbers? Im thinking corexit... there are probly over 1.5 million gallons inthe gulf now and counting. Also check out healthygulf.org they did a flyover june 4 and scoped the surface just the surface at 1000 SQUARE MILES and ofcourse the rig was placed... such good planning... right where the 1500 sperm whales live... make that lived. oy vey Please get back if so inclinced thanks

[Kellyk311]

09:19 AM on 06/10/2010

The first thing I noticed, after hearing of the spill, was that this mass would be headed right for a wildlife preserve on the tip of Louisiana.

I have been sick with rage ever since.

[TAMPA M]

08:55 AM on 06/10/2010

This type of blow out is too deep in the earth and it is impossible for them to stop this
and they know it. They are just blowing smoke up our asses right now.

The pipes are all cracked down deep in the earth they have literally
splintered and BP knows this and have known about this for a while.

This is the worst-case scenario and they aren't telling us.
They are to freak out about this and that's why they're lying.

They do not have the technology or the power to stop this well.
This goes deep into the earth's crust and the pressures are
beyond comprehension.

We are at the mercy of this toxic volcano and it cannot be stop.
This is the Gulf of Mexico's death sentence thanks a lot BP.
This site will explain it
http://rense.com/general91/oilor.htm

[SamKnause]

02:52 PM on 06/10/2010

I am not a scientist, so I am not agreeing or disagreeing with the Dr.
I just hope his prediction is wrong !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If he is correct, this is absolutely mind boggling.

[Jack Crack]

07:29 AM on 06/10/2010

Poor old America, did you know (apparently) reported on the BBC, that the real slick, the dispersed slick, is going to start hitting land NOW!!!! a slick approximately two feet thick is going to come ashore down the whole Louisiana and Alabama coasts this week.

This will only be the first of at least 3 slicks this size.

[dbalsx]

09:11 AM on 06/10/2010

Only to Louisiana & Alabama? Who cares about poor states. We are more worried about the rich florida beach houses and coastline.

[had-enough]

10:48 AM on 06/10/2010

and....the British think it is 100% OUR PROBLEM NOT BPs! Try reading The Daily Express in London and The LOndon Times, The Telegraph. Go on order-order.com...the British online blogger! They can't stand O or Americans whining about this!

[ScapeGoat]

07:28 AM on 06/10/2010

I really think we are not giving BP enough credit for what they have done.

On page 249 of the "BP Regional Oil Spill Response Plan - Gulf of Mexico" http://info.publicintelligence.net/BPGoMspillresponseplan.pdf

It clearly states under "Fish and Wildlife Resources" quote Walruses, Sea Otters, Seals and Sea Lions unquote.

Now I ask you genteel reader: has one walrus or sea otter or seal or sea lion been harmed by this oil spill? NO, NO, a thousand times NO.

See, BP has protected these animals.

Now don't you feel better :-(

[r32scoobydo]

09:11 AM on 06/11/2010

Last time I was down to NO I thought I seen some big old Walruses sitting around. Oh no wait those were politicians sitting around with BP logo tee shirts on. My bad.

[G FORCE]

03:04 AM on 06/10/2010

Boycott of BP!!!
Join Facebook boycott of BP:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=116094405092992

[JohnFromCensornati]

06:18 AM on 06/10/2010

Yeah, buy your gasoline from some other irresponsible and greedy oil corporation, like Exxon maybe. Oh, and BTW, keep on buying water in little plastic bottles.

[RedAlert99]

06:21 AM on 06/10/2010

Exactly. If you're going to do it, don't be half assed

[had2fish]

12:06 PM on 06/10/2010

Dont forget to take the tires of that bike as well!