June 11, 2010 Dead birds smothered in icky, gooey brown oil are
the iconic images of most any oil spill, including the ongoing
one in the Gulf. Even a small amount of oil can kill a bird. Oil
sticks to feathers, destroying their waterproofing ability and
exposing the bird to extremes of temperature. And ingested oil
can harm internal organs. The birds that survive long enough to
be rescued can often be cleaned. The International Bird Rescue
Research Center has treated birds from more than 150 spills over
the last four decades, and it has teamed up with Tri-State Bird
Rescue to wash birds rescued from the Gulf spill. Cleaning the
birds is a multi-step process, and it can be a stressful one for
the bird. Beforehand, the bird is examined and its health
stabilized. It may be suffering from exhaustion, dehydration,
hypothermia or the toxic effects of ingested oil. Once the bird
is healthy enough to handle the ordeal of washing, trained staff
and volunteers clean it in a tub of warm water mixed with one
percent Daw