Oiled Bird Rescue Seminar 3 - 5 April 2002

Between 3 and 5 April I had the pleasure of attending a seminar on the care and treatment of oiled seabirds at the Dublin Port headquarters and Moyle College, Clondalkin on behalf of the South Dublin Branch. Organised by the Irish Seal Sanctuary and Dublin Port in response to the growing realisation that we are not adequately prepared to deal with the ecological catastrophe that would result from a major oil spill in Irish waters, this seminar was designed to train participants in correct methods of capture, housing, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and release of oiled seabirds. The training was provided by members of the California-based International Bird Rescue Research Centre, a leading world authority on this subject, and consisted of a one-day series of preparatory lectures followed by two days of intensive hands-on instruction.

It is fair to say that the seminar was a real eye-opener for all of us who attended, including members of the I.S.P.C.A., the Coast Guard, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Fingal County Council and members of the veterinary profession. The I.B.R.R.C. have helped to co-ordinate some of the most high-profile rescue programmes over the past few decades, including the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska and the huge African Penguin rescue operation in South Africa, and the techniques that they use are the most advanced and sophisticated in the world. In fact, they have dramatically changed the thinking on how best to care for oiled birds, and the main reason for this is the attention they pay to the stabilisation of the birds in their care. Until recently, it was thought that once a seabird became oiled it was more than likely doomed to die and that very little could be done to save it. We now know, however, that with proper stabilisation and medical treatment as many as 65-70% of affected birds in any given spill can be saved, provided that the response is rapid enough.

The focus is not primarily on cleaning the oil off the birds; in fact, it is now recommended that this should not even be attempted until a bird has been in care for a minimum of 48 hours and has been adequately stabilised. Although ingestion of oil through preening is a significant factor in mortality, the main killers are dehydration and hypothermia. Once a bird becomes oiled, the condition of its feathers, including their insulating and waterproofing properties, degrades dramatically. The birds get soaked to the skin and feel cold, so they beach themselves to escape the cold water. Most of the drinking water that they need comes from the fish that they eat at sea; on land, they cannot fish so they rapidly become dehydrated and malnourished. In addition, as many seabirds, notably divers, grebes and auks, are not adapted to spend any significant amount of time on land they can develop injuries to their feet and pressure sores on their bodies, particularly along the breastbone. If a bird remains dehydrated, suffers injuries or fails to regain the ability to regulate its own body temperature then there is little chance that it will survive the intensive washing process needed to remove the oil. To be effective, this cleaning requires large amounts of hot water at high pressure and approx. 35-40 minutes of constant handling and manipulation by a minimum of two people - very stressful at the best of times and often fatal to a weakened and highly-strung bird.

Over the course of the seminar we learned not just the correct method of cleaning the birds but also how to flush their systems of petroleum toxins and how to force feed them and ensure they get adequate amounts of water. Emphasis was also placed on teaching us techniques to determine their stability and health status by way of blood tests and temperature monitoring, and we received training on how to care for injuries sustained by the birds to their wings, feet, bones, skin and muscle tissue. Crucially, we also learned how best to house them after cleaning so that their feathers can regain their waterproofing properties. Emphasis was also placed on constructing suitable enclosures for the bird while they are receiving treatment and are recuperating, so as to minimise the risk of injury and keel sores. The human health aspect is also something that must constantly be borne in mind; many birds carry diseases that, under the right conditions, can infect their carers too. Proper disinfection and ventilation at treatment centres is a must, and regard must also be had to minimising contact with oil itself (it is a highly toxic and carcinogenic substance).

Perhaps the most striking thing for me, though, was the realisation that we here in Ireland are almost totally unprepared for the consequences of a major oil spill. As yet, we have neither the facilities nor the resources to cope, not to mention a near total lack of properly trained people to care for the birds. In California and Alaska, the two states where the I.B.R.R.C. is most active, there is a system of heavy taxes and fines levied on oil companies. The money raised has been used to establish state-of-the-art treatment centres, stocked with medical supplies and complete with cleaning workstations, examination areas, purpose-built cages, rehabilitation pool and even operating theatres. We cannot even come close to that here. Awareness is increasing, however, and plans are currently underway to establish a nationwide response network and to have recourse to at least some sort of appropriate treatment centre and medical supplies should they be needed. That said, we still have a long way to go.

So, what should you do if you find an oiled bird on the beach? The first step is to contact the Coast Guard immediately; simply dial 112 (or 999) and inform them of the incident, even if you only find a single bird. The Coast Guard do consider it an emergency, as it may be the first sign of a larger disaster, so please don’t be reluctant to call them. They will then assess the situation and inform the appropriate bodies of what has happened. Depending on the size of the problem the responsibility for the clean-up will lie either with the local authority or with Dúchas, and contact will be made with the network of trained wildlife rescue and rehabilitation persons. Contact the Irish Seal Sanctaury, who have continued to work on building up their knowledge of the care of oiled birds and are more than willing to advise people on their care. Their phone number is (01) 835-4370, it will be an answer machine, but someone will get back to you. - from Pauline Beades, Secretary, Irish Seal Sanctaury. Irish Seal Sanctuary http://www.irishsealsanctuary.ie

Despite your instincts to the contrary, do not attempt to care for the bird yourself - it will require several weeks of rehabilitation, force-feeding and monitoring before it can be released and without proper stabilisation and training in washing and feeding techniques you will probably not be able to save it. The bird should be taken to a vet or to a trained rehabilitator, and then only if you can safely collect it (use a clean towel to pick it up and ensure that its eyes are covered). Take care not to get oil on your skin, preferably by using non-latex waterproof gloves, and avoid inhaling the fumes from the oil. Do not chase the birds or cause them unnecessary stress. If the birds need to be transported to a carer, use either a cardboard box with airholes or a pet carrier with a towel covering the inside of the wire mesh door. In both cases, line the container with clean towels and move the birds quickly and with as little disturbance and noise as possible. Keep them warm, but make sure that they do not overheat either. Always remember that the birds do not know that you are trying to help them, and if they can muster enough strength they may try to hit out at you with their bills, often aiming for the eyes (grebes are particularly notorious for this). Keep your eyes covered (wear safety goggles if possible) and protect your fingers. Particular care needs to be taken when approaching and handling swans; they are very powerful birds and can inflict considerable injuries. The best way to subdue a struggling bird is to cover its eyes with a towel or a blanket, then gently but firmly hold its wings closed against its body so that it cannot flap. Make sure that its nares (nostril openings) remain unobstructed and that it can open its bill slightly, or it may suffocate.

If you are interested in finding out more about the rescue and rehabilitation of oiled birds or would like more information on the work being done by the I.B.R.R.C., visit its website at http://www.ibrrc.org If a serious oil spill does occur along our coastline a large number of volunteers will be required to work under the supervision of trained rescuers and rehabilitators. If you would be at all interested in helping out should the need arise, please e-mail me at niall.birdweb.net or call me at 01-2820919 and I will ensure that your details are passed on to the correct people.

- Niall Hatch