Beans, as tough as that was to read, it is encouraging to see the loving care and nurturing being given to stricken birds. I learned quite a bit, so thank you for posting that information. I take it from the comments that you work with a rehab team or organization - God bless you for that work. I hope that owl has a successful recovery - its eyes reflect the suffering it endured.

Deepest gratitude to all who help the helpless creatures!


ETA: WELL, I had no idea this thread contained such wonderful stories and information about IBRRC, which I now know is the organization you volunteer with, Beans.... I just spent a chunk of my evening reading pages 1 & 2 of this thread and loved reading all the stories and seeing the pics and videos. What an amazing organization IBRRC is -- with such dedicated people rehabilitating so many oiled and injured and "slimed" birds. I'm very glad I read all that. (I just loved the story and videos of Least Tern.) Well-written and presented! I would encourage others to check it out!

Now that we are waiting for Dad Sidney to be captured so he can be examined, I would like to address stress management for wildlife in captivity. This information is based on the training I've had in two wildlife hospitals and confirmed in the research I've read.

Both capture and captivity cause extreme stress in wildlife. Not only have they lost their freedom, they are in a strange place, and they are being handled by humans. The captive bird (or other wildlife) will produce more glucose for energy to cope with the stress. To accomplish this, its body starts breaking down other tissues (proteins and fats). Over time, the animal goes through its store of glucose, and then it starts breaking down muscle tissue.

I hope that those who aren't part of the capture team will stay away. An audience of well-meaning admirers will simply add to Dad Sidney's stress.

The Lindsay Wildlife Museum hospital (Walnut Creek, California) received 35 animals last week, bringing the total for this year to 253.

Many mammals are looking for denning sites now that spring is almost here. Nocturnal mammals such as raccoons, skunks and opossums are looking for places that are dark and quiet during the day--attics, crawl spaces and under decks. Make sure your crawl space and attic vents are secure to prevent wildlife families in your home.

Lindsay hospital received 45 animals last week, bringing the total for this year to 295.

Four of the patients were house finches suffering from mycoplasma infections. This eye disease affects house finches, goldfinches and other songbirds and can be spread at bird feeders. It's really important to clean and sanitize your bird feeder at least once a week to keep birds healthy.

oiled Common Murre

More than 100 oiled birds have been brought in to International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) for care after being coated with oil in a natural seep event along the Southern California coast. The birds, whose insulation and waterproofing are affected by the oil, have begun to flood the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Center, which is managed by IBRRC – 64 of them since February 1. Natural oil seeps are common, but stirred up by winter storms they can be deadly for seabirds.

So far during this event, IBRRC specialists have treated Western and Clark's Grebes; Common Murres; Common, Pacific, and Red-throated Loons; California and Western Gulls; and a Northern Fulmar.

Oil seeps occur naturally all along the coast of California, most notably in the Santa Barbara Channel near Coal Oil Point, which emits between 5,280 and 6,600 gallons of oil per day. Oil is particularly harmful to diving birds that spend time on the surface where the oil sits. It interferes with the birds' ability to maintain their body temperature by impairing the natural insulation and waterproofing properties of their feathers, which can result in hypothermia, as their metabolisms try to combat the cold. Oiled birds often beach themselves in this weakened state, and become easy prey for other animals.

While high profile events like the Gulf Spill grab all the headlines, small spills, natural seeps, algal blooms, and even extreme weather can impact birds, keeping IBRRC staff and volunteers at the organization's two rehabilitation clinics busy 365 days per year.

IBRRC knows, from 40 years of experience, to anticipate a large influx of oiled birds during the winter months. This year has been a particularly challenging one, with severe storms moving seep oil around at a time when large numbers of migratory birds are feeding off California's coast.

Lindsay hospital received 62 animals last week, bringing the total to 404 for this year.

Ten of the patients were baby opossums that were found still attached to the nipples of their dead mother. The whole lot was brought to the hospital where the staff carefully removed the babies. Nine of the babies have survived so far. If you find a dead opossum, check to see if there are babies in the pouch. Don't try to remove the babies yourself, but bring the mother, with offspring still attached, to the nearest wildlife hospital.

Here is what a baby Opossum looks like (not a Lindsay hospital picture)

Some of you may remember when I talked about monofilament (think fishing line) strung over a city dump. Gulls (mostly Western Gulls) were flying into the line and getting entangled. The city’s Animal Services would cut them down and call IBRRC. We would pick them up and bring them to the hospital. I picked up a young banded Western Gull (not the first) last year and brought him to the hospital. We read his band and discovered he had been with us as a baby and was released when he met our weight, blood, and flying standards. Now, sadly, he was with us again.

Video of Young Gull in Rehab

The good news is he recovered after a few weeks in the hospital and was released! He bit everyone, including me, but that was ok: he had spirit and determination! A prime example of BAR (bright, alert, responsive)

Video of Young Gull Released

I wrote letters to the City Council with a copy to the Mayor and Director of Public works and Animal Services. The latter had tried and tried to get the City to do something about the monofilament, but to no avail. Then Jay Holcomb, a City Council Member, and I met at the Dump (actually, it is the Transfer Station) to suggest some changes. Mr. Holcomb suggested that shiny mylar ribbons be strung from the fishing line. The birds could see these from a distance and perhaps would stay away.

This worked for a while, but again the Gulls were getting entangled. This morning spoke with IBRRC wildlife manager. Mr. Holcomb is again willing to work with the Transfer Station to see what else can be done. I spoke with Animal Services, and an officer there is compiling a list of the birds that were caught on the line for the last year. I will pick it up tomorrow and send a copy to IBRRC. Stay tuned….

Update on what is happening:

IBRRC is in receipt of the information I sent from Animal Services. Records have been checked, and these are the facts:

2011: 4 birds from the City dump (transfer station)

11-062 2/11 - Released 3/5
11-128 3/12 - Euthanized 3/20
11-130 3/14 - In care
11-145 3/23 - In care


2010: 3 birds from City dump (transfer station)

10-206 3/10 - Released 3/16
10-2351 9/10 - Released 9/23
10-2357 9/15 - Released 9/22

(This list does not include other birds we have picked up from this city)

Jay Holcomb now has the information he needs to open talks with the City authorities. He'll begin by sending emails (with the information) and suggest a meeting. I'll be invited, too.