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{{Short description|Nonprofit bird rescue organization}}
{{Infobox organization
{{Infobox organization
| name = International Bird Rescue
| name = International Bird Rescue
| type = Non-governmental environmental organization
| type = Non-governmental environmental organization
| founded_date = {{Start date|1971}} <br/> [[Berkeley, California]]
| founded_date = {{Start date and age|1971}} <br/> [[Berkeley, California]]
| founder = Raymond Balter, James Michael Harris, Ralph Steiner
| founders = Alice Berkner, Raymond Balter, James Harris, Ralph Steiner, Joshua Lichterman
| location = [[Cordelia, California]], United States
| location = [[Cordelia, California]], United States
| key_people = JD Bergeron, Executive Director
| key_people = JD Bergeron, CEO
| area_served = Worldwide
| area_served = Worldwide
| focus = [[Environmentalism]], [[Conservation biology]], [[Wildlife rehabilitation]]
| focus = [[Environmentalism]], [[Conservation biology]], [[Wildlife rehabilitation]]
| homepage = {{url|www.bird-rescue.org}}
| homepage = {{url|www.birdrescue.org}}
| former name = International Bird Rescue Research Center
| former name = International Bird Rescue Research Center
}}
}}


'''International Bird Rescue''' is a [[nonprofit organization]] that rehabilitates injured [[aquatic bird]]s, most notably seabirds affected by [[oil spills]]. Founded by Ecology Action personnel (Raymond Balter, Joshua Lichterman, and Ralph Steiner) and James Michael Harris, D.V.M. in 1971 and based in [[Cordelia, California]], the group has developed scientifically-based bird rehabilitation techniques and has led oiled wildlife rescue efforts in more than 200 oil spills worldwide, including the 1989 [[Exxon Valdez oil spill|''Exxon Valdez'' oil spill]] in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and the 2010 [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spill]] in the Gulf of Mexico, where International Bird Rescue co-managed oiled bird rehabilitation efforts in four states with [[Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research]].
'''International Bird Rescue''' is a [[nonprofit organization]] that rehabilitates injured [[aquatic bird]]s, most notably seabirds affected by [[oil spills]]. Founded by [https://www.birdrescue.org/about/history/founders-story/ Alice Berkner] and members of the Ecology Action, including veterinarian James Michael Harris, D.V.M. in 1971<ref>{{cite web|title=Articles of Incorporation|date=27 April 1971|url=https://birdrescue.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Incorporation.pdf|accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref> and based in [[Cordelia, California]], the group has developed scientifically-based bird rehabilitation techniques and has led oiled wildlife rescue efforts in more than 200 oil spills worldwide, including the 1989 [[Exxon Valdez oil spill|''Exxon Valdez'' oil spill]] in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and the 2010 [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spill]] in the Gulf of Mexico, where International Bird Rescue co-managed oiled bird rehabilitation efforts in four states with [[Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research]].


Formerly known as International Bird Rescue Research Center, the organization cares for an estimated 5,000 birds annually at two rehabilitation centers, the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center and the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center, that also serve as primary care facilities for oiled birds in the event of a spill in California. Common bird species treated include [[brown pelican]]s, [[common murre]]s, [[western grebe]]s, [[Pacific loon]]s, and a variety of [[gull]]s, [[heron]]s, and other [[waterfowl]].
Formerly known as International Bird Rescue Research Center, the organization cares for an estimated 5,000 birds annually at two rehabilitation centers, the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center and the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center, that also serve as primary care facilities for oiled birds in the event of a spill in California. Common bird species treated include [[brown pelican]]s, [[common murre]]s, [[western grebe]]s, [[Pacific loon]]s, and a variety of [[gull]]s, [[heron]]s, and other [[waterfowl]].


International Bird Rescue is a member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN),<ref>"[http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/ Oiled Wildlife Care Network]". [[UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine]], www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu</ref> which is managed by the [[UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine]] on behalf of the State of California.
International Bird Rescue is a member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN),<ref>"[http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/ Oiled Wildlife Care Network]". [[UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine]], www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu</ref> which is managed by the [[UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine]] on behalf of the State of California.

Jay Holcomb, International Bird Rescue's executive director, director emeritus and an internationally known wildlife advocate, died on June 10, 2014. During his tenure he was a recipient of Oceana's [[Ocean Heroes Award]], the [[John Muir]] Conservationist of the Year Award and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>"[http://www.johnmuirassociation.org/php/conserv-award-submitnom.php/ John Muir Conservationist of the Year Award]". johnmuirassociation.org</ref>


==History==
==History==
===1970s===

On January 19, 1971, two [[Standard Oil]] tankers, the ''Arizona Standard'' and the ''Oregon Standard'', collided near San Francisco's [[Golden Gate Bridge]], resulting in a spill that covered 50 miles of coastline with 2,700 cubic tons of crude oil.<ref name="Newman">{{cite journal|last=Newman, S.H., Ziccardi, M.H., Berkner, A.B., Holcomb, J., Clumpner, C. & Mazet, J.A.K.|title=A historical account of oiled wildlife care in California|journal=Marine Ornithology|year=2003|issue=31|pages=59–64|url=http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/31_1/31_1_8_newman.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Susan|title=Bird Rescue in the 1971 Tanker Spill|url=http://www.outsidelands.org/1971_oil_spill.php|publisher=Western Neighborhoods Project|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> About 7,000 birds were oiled by the spill. Volunteers collected nearly 4,300 of them, mainly [[western grebe]]s and [[scoter]]s, and brought them to makeshift rehabilitation centers. Only about 300 were released — in part given the lack of established oiled bird rehabilitation practices at the time. "There were dying birds everywhere and no one knew what to do. It was as horrible as you can imagine," Jay Holcomb, International Bird Rescue's former executive director, told the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Carolyn|title=International Bird Rescue celebrates 40 years|url=http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/International-Bird-Rescue-celebrates-40th-years-3504432.php|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> "It was then that we realized there needs to be an organized attempt for their care."
On January 19, 1971, two [[Standard Oil]] tankers, the ''Arizona Standard'' and the ''Oregon Standard'', collided near San Francisco's [[Golden Gate Bridge]], resulting in a spill that covered 50 miles of coastline with 2,700 cubic tons of crude oil.<ref name="Newman">{{cite journal|last=Newman, S.H., Ziccardi, M.H., Berkner, A.B., Holcomb, J., Clumpner, C. & Mazet, J.A.K.|title=A historical account of oiled wildlife care in California|journal=Marine Ornithology|year=2003|issue=31|pages=59–64|url=http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/31_1/31_1_8_newman.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Susan|title=Bird Rescue in the 1971 Tanker Spill|url=http://www.outsidelands.org/1971_oil_spill.php|publisher=Western Neighborhoods Project|accessdate=21 January 2014}}</ref> About 7,000 birds were oiled by the spill. Volunteers collected nearly 4,300 of them, mainly [[western grebe]]s and [[scoter]]s, and brought them to makeshift rehabilitation centers. Only about 300 were released — in part given the lack of established oiled bird rehabilitation practices at the time. "There were dying birds everywhere and no one knew what to do. It was as horrible as you can imagine," Jay Holcomb, International Bird Rescue's former executive director, told the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Carolyn|title=International Bird Rescue celebrates 40 years|url=http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/International-Bird-Rescue-celebrates-40th-years-3504432.php|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> "It was then that we realized there needs to be an organized attempt for their care."


While documented rehabilitation efforts of oiled seabirds in California dates back to the 1940s, the 1971 [[1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill|San Francisco Bay Arizona & Oregon Standard spill]], and the [[1969 Santa Barbara oil spill|1969 Santa Barbara/Union Platform A spill]] that preceded it, spurred new efforts to create permanent rehabilitation facilities and programs, as well as to monitor seabird mortality resulting from spills.<ref name="Newman" /> Alice Berkner, a retired nurse and animal lover who assisted in oiled bird rehabilitation following the Standard Oil accident, was the first Executive Director of International Bird Rescue — originally called International Bird Rescue Research Center — in April 1971.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jordan|first=Larry|title=International Bird Rescue Believes "Every Bird Matters"|url=http://10000birds.com/international-bird-rescue-believes-every-bird-matters.htm|publisher=10,000 Birds|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref> The fledgling organization was housed in a small space above the Berkeley Humane Society, and in 1975 moved to [[Aquatic Park (Berkeley)|Berkeley's Aquatic Park]] on a $5-per-year lease from the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Founder's Story|url=http://www.bird-rescue.org/about/history/founder%27s-story.aspx|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref>
While documented rehabilitation efforts of oiled seabirds in California dates back to the 1940s, the 1971 [[1971 San Francisco Bay oil spill|San Francisco Bay Arizona & Oregon Standard spill]], and the [[1969 Santa Barbara oil spill|1969 Santa Barbara/Union Platform A spill]] that preceded it, spurred new efforts to create permanent rehabilitation facilities and programs, as well as to monitor seabird mortality resulting from spills.<ref name="Newman" /> Alice Berkner, a retired nurse and animal lover who assisted in oiled bird rehabilitation following the Standard Oil accident, became the first Executive Director of International Bird Rescue — originally called International Bird Rescue Research Center — in May 1971.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jordan|first=Larry|title=International Bird Rescue Believes "Every Bird Matters"|date=26 September 2012|url=http://10000birds.com/international-bird-rescue-believes-every-bird-matters.htm|publisher=10,000 Birds|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref> The fledgling organization was housed in a small space above the Berkeley Humane Society, and in 1975 moved to [[Aquatic Park (Berkeley)|Berkeley's Aquatic Park]] on a $5-per-year lease from the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Founder's Story|url=http://www.bird-rescue.org/about/history/founder%27s-story.aspx|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref>


The early ethos of the organization was one of seabird conservation through partnership with the oil industry. In 1977, International Bird Rescue signed its first oil spill response contract with [[Alyeska Pipeline Service Company]]. "My attitude was not that of the stereotypical environmentalist of that time, but that of a consumer who accepted responsibility for what could result from petroleum consumption on an individual and even species level," Berkner recalled. "I felt it important to develop a cleaning technology that could lessen impact on oiled, endangered and threatened species, and that by responding to spills involving more numerous species, precarious populations of birds would not be subject to experimentation when oiling occurred."
The early ethos of the organization was one of seabird conservation through partnership with the oil industry. In 1977, International Bird Rescue signed its first oil spill response contract with [[Alyeska Pipeline Service Company]]. "My attitude was not that of the stereotypical environmentalist of that time, but that of a consumer who accepted responsibility for what could result from petroleum consumption on an individual and even species level," Berkner recalled. "I felt it important to develop a cleaning technology that could lessen impact on oiled, endangered and threatened species, and that by responding to spills involving more numerous species, precarious populations of birds would not be subject to experimentation when oiling occurred."


Through the 1970s, International Bird Rescue was responsible for a number of important journal articles.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Harris|first=James M.|title=Treatment of Oil-Soaked Birds|journal=Current Veterinary Therapy V, Edited by Robert W Kirk, Pp. 564–566|date=1974|url=https://birdrescue.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JM-Harris-1974.pdf|accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Smith|first=David C.|title=Rehabilitating Oiled Aquatic Birds|journal=International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings |location=San Francisco |volume= 1975| issue = 1 |pages=241–247|date=March 1974|doi=10.7901/2169-3358-1975-1-241|url=https://birdrescue.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1975-Rehabilitating-Oiled-Aquatic-Birds.pdf|accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Harris, James M.|author2=David C. Smith|title=Treatment, Husbandry and Rehabilitation of Oil-Soaked Birds|journal=Current Veterinary Therapy, Edited by Robert W Kirk, Pp. 694-697|date=1977|url=https://birdrescue.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Harris-Smith-CVT-1977.pdf|accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Berkner, Alice B.|author2=David C. Smith|author3=Anne S. Williams|title=Cleaning Agents for Oiled Wildlife|journal=International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings |location=New Orleans |volume= 1977| issue = 1 |pages=411–416|date=March 1977|doi=10.7901/2169-3358-1977-1-411|url=https://birdrescue.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1977-Cleaning-Agents.pdf|accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref>
By the mid-1980s, International Bird Rescue had become a leading expert in the wildlife rehabilitation field, pioneering new techniques and co-publishing such guides as ''Rehabilitating Oiled Seabirds: A Field Manual'' (1986).<ref>{{cite book|last=Williams, Anne S., Burridge, Jeff & Kane, Meryl|title=Rehabilitating Oiled Seabirds: A Field Manual|year=1986|publisher=Amer Petroleum Inst|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0893640565|pages=79}}</ref> Advancements made included best practices for washing oiled birds, warm water pool therapy, and net bottom cages to help prevent sternum and hock lesions in diving birds, auks, and other aquatic species.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Holcomb, J. |author2=Russell, M.|title=30 Years of Oiled Wildlife Response and Statistics|journal=Proceedings of the 7th International Effects of Oil on Wildlife, Hamburg, Germany |date=October 2003}}</ref> In 1986, Jay Holcomb became executive director of the organization.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nishi|first=Dennis|title=A Lifesaver for Birds in Distress|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703880304575236402889760056|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=May 10, 2010}}</ref>

===1980s and 1990s===
By the mid-1980s, the organization had become a leading source of expertise in the wildlife rehabilitation field, pioneering new techniques and co-publishing such guides as ''Rehabilitating Oiled Seabirds: A Field Manual'' (1986).<ref>{{cite book|last=Williams, Anne S., Burridge, Jeff & Kane, Meryl|title=Rehabilitating Oiled Seabirds: A Field Manual|year=1986|publisher=Amer Petroleum Inst|location=Washington, D.C.|isbn=0893640565|pages=79}}</ref> Advancements made included best practices for washing oiled birds, warm water pool therapy, and net bottom cages to help prevent sternum and hock lesions in diving birds, auks, and other aquatic species.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Holcomb, J. |author2=Russell, M.|title=30 Years of Oiled Wildlife Response and Statistics|journal=Proceedings of the 7th International Effects of Oil on Wildlife, Hamburg, Germany |date=October 2003}}</ref> In 1986, Jay Holcomb became executive director of the organization.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nishi|first=Dennis|title=A Lifesaver for Birds in Distress|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703880304575236402889760056|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=May 10, 2010}}</ref>


Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the organization's oiled wildlife response efforts extended well beyond California. International Bird Rescue staff spent six months managing three bird centers and two search-and-collection programs in the 1989 [[Exxon Valdez oil spill|''Exxon Valdez'' disaster]], where 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Alaska's [[Prince William Sound]], killing between 100,000 and 250,000 seabirds.<ref>{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Sarah|title=Environmental Effects of Exxon Valdez Spill Still Being Felt|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=environmental-effects-of|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Scientific American|date=December 19, 2003}}</ref> ''Exxon Valdez'' was the first major spill where field stabilization and transport were utilized extensively in oiled wildlife care.<ref>{{cite web|title=1989, Exxon Valdez, Alaska|url=http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/1989/03/1989-exxon-valdez-alaska/|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref>
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the organization's oiled wildlife response efforts extended well beyond California. International Bird Rescue staff spent six months managing three bird centers and two search-and-collection programs in the 1989 [[Exxon Valdez oil spill|''Exxon Valdez'' disaster]], where 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Alaska's [[Prince William Sound]], killing between 100,000 and 250,000 seabirds.<ref>{{cite news|last=Graham|first=Sarah|title=Environmental Effects of Exxon Valdez Spill Still Being Felt|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=environmental-effects-of|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Scientific American|date=December 19, 2003}}</ref> ''Exxon Valdez'' was the first major spill where field stabilization and transport were utilized extensively in oiled wildlife care.<ref>{{cite web|title=1989, Exxon Valdez, Alaska|url=http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/1989/03/1989-exxon-valdez-alaska/|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref>


Following the ''Exxon Valdez'' incident, [[United States Congress|Congress]] passed and President [[George H.W. Bush]] signed into law the [[Oil Pollution Act of 1990|U.S. Oil Pollution Act]] (OPA) of 1990. Among other requirements, the law mandates more stringent oil spill contingency planning by industry that included oiled wildlife emergency response.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oil Pollution Act Overview|url=http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/lawsregs/opaover.htm|publisher=Environmental Protection Agency|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> OPA, along with California's [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/About/history.aspx Lampert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act], led to new programs to collect data on mortality rates and develop seabird restoration programs.
Following the ''Exxon Valdez'' incident, [[United States Congress|Congress]] passed and President [[George H. W. Bush]] signed into law the [[Oil Pollution Act of 1990|U.S. Oil Pollution Act]] (OPA) of 1990. Among other requirements, the law mandates more stringent oil spill contingency planning by industry that included oiled wildlife emergency response.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oil Pollution Act Overview|url=http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/lawsregs/opaover.htm|publisher=Environmental Protection Agency|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> OPA, along with California's [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/About/history.aspx Lampert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act], led to new programs to collect data on mortality rates and develop seabird restoration programs.


Several bills passed in California in the mid-1990s led to the creation of the [https://owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ Oiled Wildlife Care Network] (OWCN), formed as part of the [https://wildlife.ca.gov/OSPR Office of Spill Prevention and Response] and administered by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.<ref>{{cite web|title=OWCN History|url=http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/about_us/history.cfm|publisher=Oiled Wildlife Care Network|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> New rehabilitation facilities, such as those currently managed by International Bird Rescue, were designed to prevent disease transmission among avian patients and to minimize historic challenges associated with animal husbandry.<ref name="Newman" />
Several bills passed in California in the mid-1990s led to the creation of the [https://owcn.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ Oiled Wildlife Care Network] (OWCN), formed as part of the [https://wildlife.ca.gov/OSPR Office of Spill Prevention and Response] and administered by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.<ref>{{cite web|title=OWCN History|url=http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/about_us/history.cfm|publisher=Oiled Wildlife Care Network|accessdate=13 December 2012}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> New rehabilitation facilities, such as those currently managed by International Bird Rescue, were designed to prevent disease transmission among avian patients and to minimize historic challenges associated with animal husbandry.<ref name="Newman" />


===2000 onwards===
During the [http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2000/06/2000-treasure-spill-south-africa-2/ 2000 Treasure Spill] near [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]], International Bird Rescue was mobilized by its partner in international oil spill response, the [[International Fund for Animal Welfare]] (IFAW), to assist the [[SANCCOB|Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds]] (SANCCOB) in a massive effort to wash and rehabilitate more than 20,000 oiled [[African penguin]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=University of Cape Town: Avian Demography Unit, Department of Statistical Science |title=The Treasure oil spill: Effects on the wildlife of Table Bay and particularly on the endangered African Penguin|url=http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/oilspill/|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref> More than 90% of the oiled birds captured were released. In addition to the rehabilitation program, [[CapeNature]] initiated a large-scale capture program on nearby islands and successfully relocated more than 19,500 non-oiled penguins.
During the [http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2000/06/2000-treasure-spill-south-africa-2/ 2000 Treasure Spill] near [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]], International Bird Rescue was mobilized by its partner in international oil spill response, the [[International Fund for Animal Welfare]] (IFAW), to assist the [[SANCCOB|Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds]] (SANCCOB) in a massive effort to wash and rehabilitate more than 20,000 oiled [[African penguin]]s.<ref>{{cite web|last=University of Cape Town: Avian Demography Unit, Department of Statistical Science|title=The Treasure oil spill: Effects on the wildlife of Table Bay and particularly on the endangered African Penguin|url=http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/stats/adu/oilspill/|accessdate=3 January 2013}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> More than 90% of the oiled birds captured were released. In addition to the rehabilitation program, [[CapeNature]] initiated a large-scale capture program on nearby islands and successfully relocated more than 19,500 non-oiled penguins.


International Bird Rescue saw perhaps the most extensive international attention of its near-40-year existence in 2010 following the explosion of ''[[Deepwater Horizon]]'', a semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit owned and operated by [[Transocean]] and leased by [[BP]] on the [[Macondo Prospect]] oil field in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The explosion and resulting fire on April 20, 2010, killed 11 workers and caused a sea-floor oil gusher that spewed 4.9 million barrels of crude oil before the wellhead was capped on July 15, 2010. The disaster remains the largest accidental marine oil spill in petroleum industry history.<ref>{{cite news|title=BP leak the world's worst accidental oil spill|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7924009/BP-leak-the-worlds-worst-accidental-oil-spill.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=August 3, 2010}}</ref> International Bird Rescue teamed up with [[Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research]], the lead oiled wildlife organization on the ground, to co-manage oiled bird rehabilitation centers in [[Louisiana]], [[Alabama]], [[Mississippi]], and [[Florida]] as part of a large-scale response to the incident that involved federal and state agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations. More than 8,000 oiled birds were captured and collected both dead and alive, according to government figures,<ref>{{cite news|last=Brubaker Calkins|first=Laurel|title=BP Spill Fine May Undercount Dead Turtles, Birds, Group Says|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-12/bp-spill-fine-may-undercount-dead-turtles-dolphins-group-says.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> with 1,246 birds released back into the wild.
International Bird Rescue saw perhaps the most extensive international attention of its near-40-year existence in 2010 following the explosion of ''[[Deepwater Horizon]]'', a semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit owned and operated by [[Transocean]] and leased by [[BP]] on the [[Macondo Prospect]] oil field in the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. The explosion and resulting fire on April 20, 2010, killed 11 workers and caused a sea-floor oil gusher that spewed 4.9 million barrels of crude oil before the wellhead was capped on July 15, 2010. The disaster remains the largest accidental marine oil spill in petroleum industry history.<ref>{{cite news|title=BP leak the world's worst accidental oil spill|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7924009/BP-leak-the-worlds-worst-accidental-oil-spill.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=August 3, 2010}}</ref> International Bird Rescue teamed up with [[Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research]], the lead oiled wildlife organization on the ground, to co-manage oiled bird rehabilitation centers in [[Louisiana]], [[Alabama]], [[Mississippi]], and [[Florida]] as part of a large-scale response to the incident that involved federal and state agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations. More than 8,000 oiled birds were captured and collected both dead and alive, according to government figures,<ref>{{cite news|last=Brubaker Calkins|first=Laurel|title=BP Spill Fine May Undercount Dead Turtles, Birds, Group Says|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-12/bp-spill-fine-may-undercount-dead-turtles-dolphins-group-says.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> with 1,246 birds released back into the wild.
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International Bird Rescue's efforts to save oiled birds during the spill were prominently featured in the [[Emmy Award]]-winning [[HBO]] documentary [http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/saving-pelican-895/index.html ''Saving Pelican 895''], which chronicled the step-by-step rehabilitation efforts of a single juvenile brown pelican.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saving Pelican 895|url=http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/saving-pelican-895/index.html|publisher=HBO Documentaries|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref>
International Bird Rescue's efforts to save oiled birds during the spill were prominently featured in the [[Emmy Award]]-winning [[HBO]] documentary [http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/saving-pelican-895/index.html ''Saving Pelican 895''], which chronicled the step-by-step rehabilitation efforts of a single juvenile brown pelican.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saving Pelican 895|url=http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/saving-pelican-895/index.html|publisher=HBO Documentaries|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref>


Post-''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spills that International Bird Rescue has responded to include the [[Rena oil spill|''Rena'' spill]] in New Zealand (at the request of [[Massey University]]'s Wildlife Health Centre)<ref>{{cite web|last=Massey University|title=Rena Oiled Wildlife Response, Tauranga|url=http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/research/centres-research/wildbase/wildbase-oil-response/rena-oilspill/rena-oilspill_home.cfm|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref> and the [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/yellowstone_river_spill/ Yellowstone River Silvertip Pipeline Spill Incident],<ref>{{cite news|title=Yellowstone oil spill has spread farther, Exxon Mobil says|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/05/nation/la-na-oil-spill-yellowstone-20110705|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> both occurring in 2011.
Post-''Deepwater Horizon'' oil spills that International Bird Rescue has responded to include the [[Rena oil spill|''Rena'' spill]] in New Zealand (at the request of [[Massey University]]'s Wildlife Health Centre)<ref>{{cite web|last=Massey University|title=Rena Oiled Wildlife Response, Tauranga|url=http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/research/centres-research/wildbase/wildbase-oil-response/rena-oilspill/rena-oilspill_home.cfm|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref> and the [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/yellowstone_river_spill/ Yellowstone River Silvertip Pipeline Spill Incident],<ref>{{cite news|title=Yellowstone oil spill has spread farther, Exxon Mobil says|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-jul-05-la-na-oil-spill-yellowstone-20110705-story.html|access-date=13 December 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 5, 2011}}</ref> both occurring in 2011.


A bitumen release in the Alberta Tar Sands in the summer of 2013 also led to a wildlife response by International Bird Rescue in partnership with two Canadian wildlife organizations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crews working around the clock to deal with wildlife after Alberta bitumen spill|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/08/01/crews-working-around-the-clock-to-deal-with-wildlife-after-alberta-bitumen-spill|newspaper=Edmonton Sun|date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>
A bitumen release in the Alberta Tar Sands in the summer of 2013 also led to a wildlife response by International Bird Rescue in partnership with two Canadian wildlife organizations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crews working around the clock to deal with wildlife after Alberta bitumen spill|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/08/01/crews-working-around-the-clock-to-deal-with-wildlife-after-alberta-bitumen-spill|newspaper=Edmonton Sun|date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>


On June 10, 2014, Jay Holcomb died in Modesto, California, of kidney cancer. Barbara Callahan, a longtime senior staff member of International Bird Rescue who trained under Holcomb and serves as global response director, has been appointed interim executive director of the organization by the board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Holcomb, 1951-2014|url=http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2014/06/jay-holcomb-1951-2014/|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref>
Jay Holcomb, International Bird Rescue's executive director, director emeritus and an internationally known wildlife advocate, died on June 10, 2014, of kidney cancer. During his tenure he was a recipient of Oceana's [[Ocean Heroes Award]], the [[John Muir]] Conservationist of the Year Award and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>"[http://www.johnmuirassociation.org/php/conserv-award-submitnom.php/ John Muir Conservationist of the Year Award]". johnmuirassociation.org</ref> Following his death, Barbara Callahan, a longtime senior staff member of International Bird Rescue who trained under Holcomb and serves as global response director, was appointed interim executive director of the organization by the board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Holcomb, 1951-2014|url=http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2014/06/jay-holcomb-1951-2014/|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=11 June 2014}}</ref> In 2015 JD Bergeron was appointed Executive Director. Later the board changed his title to Chief Executive Director.


==Major oiled wildlife response efforts==
==Major oiled wildlife response efforts==
Line 56: Line 59:
When a bird becomes oiled, its feathers can mat and separate, exposing the animal's sensitive skin to temperature extremes. The bird also typically ingests petroleum as it attempts to preen the oil off its feathers. As a result, oil exposure can lead to [[dehydration]], [[kidney damage]], and [[hypothermia]] or [[hyperthermia]], among other serious health conditions.
When a bird becomes oiled, its feathers can mat and separate, exposing the animal's sensitive skin to temperature extremes. The bird also typically ingests petroleum as it attempts to preen the oil off its feathers. As a result, oil exposure can lead to [[dehydration]], [[kidney damage]], and [[hypothermia]] or [[hyperthermia]], among other serious health conditions.


After collection, each oiled bird is stabilized, which includes nutrition, hydration, and medical treatment before it is considered for a wash, as unstable birds may die from the resulting stress of the procedure.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Oil Affects Birds|url=http://www.birdrescue.org/our-work/research-and-education/how-oil-affects-birds.aspx|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> Once stable, an oiled bird goes through a series of tub washes with a low concentration of [[Dawn (brand)|Dawn]] dishwashing liquid in clean water. Scientific studies dating back to the 1970s have identified Dawn, a brand owned by [[Procter & Gamble]], as the most effective detergent for removing petrochemicals from bird feathers, replacing earlier methods using solvents and products such as mascara remover, powdered chalk, and mineral oil.<ref>{{cite news|last=Viegas|first=Jennifer|title=For oiled wildlife, Dawn cleans best|url=http://news.discovery.com/animals/dawn-detergent-oil-spills-animals.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Discovery News|date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> Additional research in 1995 confirmed that Dawn was the best available cleaning detergent for oiled wildlife because it easily removed oil without damaging a bird's plumage, irritating its skin, or posing additional health problems to the animals or the people involved in rehabilitation efforts.<ref name="Newman" />
After collection, each oiled bird is stabilized, which includes nutrition, hydration, and medical treatment before it is considered for a wash, as unstable birds may die from the resulting stress of the procedure.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Oil Affects Birds|url=http://www.birdrescue.org/our-work/research-and-education/how-oil-affects-birds.aspx|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Once stable, an oiled bird goes through a series of tub washes with a low concentration of [[Dawn (brand)|Dawn]] dishwashing liquid in clean water. Scientific studies dating back to the 1970s had identified Dawn,<ref>{{cite web|title=How Dawn Became Detergent of Choice|date=26 November 2018|url=https://birdrescue.info/285-2/|accessdate=11 February 2021}}</ref> a brand owned by [[Procter & Gamble]] as the most effective detergent for removing petrochemicals from bird feathers, replacing earlier methods using solvents and products such as mascara remover, powdered chalk, and mineral oil.<ref>{{cite news|last=Viegas|first=Jennifer|title=For oiled wildlife, Dawn cleans best|url=http://news.discovery.com/animals/dawn-detergent-oil-spills-animals.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Discovery News|date=May 11, 2010}}</ref> Additional research in 1995 confirmed that Dawn was the best available cleaning detergent for oiled wildlife because it easily removed oil without damaging a bird's plumage, irritating its skin, or posing additional health problems to the animals or the people involved in rehabilitation efforts.<ref name="Newman" />


After washing, the bird is taken to a separate rinsing area where a special nozzle is used to completely rinse the solution, as any detergent or solution left on its feathers can impair waterproofing. The bird is then placed in a protective, net-bottomed pen equipped with commercial pet grooming dryers, where it will begin to preen its feathers back into place. A tight overlapping pattern of the feathers creates a natural waterproof seal, which enables the bird to maintain its body temperature and remain buoyant in the water.
After washing, the bird is taken to a separate rinsing area where a special nozzle is used to completely rinse the solution, as any detergent or solution left on its feathers can impair waterproofing. The bird is then placed in a protective, net-bottomed pen equipped with commercial pet grooming dryers, where it will begin to preen its feathers back into place. A tight overlapping pattern of the feathers creates a natural waterproof seal, which enables the bird to maintain its body temperature and remain buoyant in the water.
Line 72: Line 75:
While International Bird Rescue specializes in treating seabirds and other aquatic birds, the organization is also capable of working with non-aquatic birds, including [[owls]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelway|first=Paul|title=The Owl in the Attic and Rehab Complexities|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-kelway/the-owl-in-the-attic-and-_b_1408549.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=April 6, 2012}}</ref> [[hawks]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Friday Rounds: Washing a Sharp-shinned Hawk|url=http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2012/11/friday-rounds-sharp-shinned-hawk/|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> [[doves]], [[finches]], [[hummingbirds]], [[pigeons]], [[Old World sparrow|sparrows]], and [[wild turkeys]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dmytryk|first=Rebecca|title=Turkey Shot with Arrow Rescued|url=http://vimeo.com/49338080|publisher=Vimeo|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref>
While International Bird Rescue specializes in treating seabirds and other aquatic birds, the organization is also capable of working with non-aquatic birds, including [[owls]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Kelway|first=Paul|title=The Owl in the Attic and Rehab Complexities|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-kelway/the-owl-in-the-attic-and-_b_1408549.html|accessdate=13 December 2012|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=April 6, 2012}}</ref> [[hawks]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Friday Rounds: Washing a Sharp-shinned Hawk|url=http://blog.bird-rescue.org/index.php/2012/11/friday-rounds-sharp-shinned-hawk/|publisher=International Bird Rescue|accessdate=13 December 2012}}</ref> [[doves]], [[finches]], [[hummingbirds]], [[pigeons]], [[Old World sparrow|sparrows]], and [[wild turkeys]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Dmytryk|first=Rebecca|title=Turkey Shot with Arrow Rescued|url=http://vimeo.com/49338080|publisher=Vimeo|accessdate=3 January 2013}}</ref>


In January 2015, birds found along the eastern shore of the [[San Francisco Bay]] were found coated in a sticky substance, not crude oil, and were sent to IBR for cleanup efforts. Upwards of 200 birds were potentially affected. The source of this "mystery goo" has not yet been identified.<ref>[http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Number-of-birds-coated-with-mystery-goo-shoots-up-6025502.php#/0]</ref>
In January 2015, birds found along the eastern shore of the [[San Francisco Bay]] were found coated in a sticky substance, not crude oil, and were sent to IBR for cleanup efforts. Upwards of 200 birds were potentially affected. The source of this "mystery goo" has not yet been identified.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Number-of-birds-coated-with-mystery-goo-shoots-up-6025502.php#/0|title = S.F. Bay bird rescue: Mystery goo bedevils experts|date = 20 January 2015}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
Line 93: Line 96:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|http://bird-rescue.org}}
* {{official website|http://birdrescue.org}}
* [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/ Office of Spill Prevention and Response] (OSPR)
* [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/ Office of Spill Prevention and Response] (OSPR)
* [http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/ Oiled Wildlife Care Network] (OWCN)
* [http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/ Oiled Wildlife Care Network] (OWCN)
* [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/about/history.aspx Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act]
* [http://www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/about/history.aspx Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act]
* [https://www.oilspillresponse.com/services/member-response-services/oiled-wildlife-response-services/ Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service] (GOWRS)
* [http://www.aiuka.com.br/ Aiuká]
* [http://www.aiuka.com.br/ Aiuká]
* [https://birdrescue.info/ Bird Rescue Efforts Following the 1971 Oil Spill]
* [https://birdrescue.info/ Bird Rescue Efforts Following the 1971 Oil Spill]
Line 106: Line 110:
[[Category:Wildlife rehabilitation]]
[[Category:Wildlife rehabilitation]]
[[Category:Oil spill remediation technologies]]
[[Category:Oil spill remediation technologies]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Berkeley, California]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1971]]

Latest revision as of 20:48, 25 November 2024

International Bird Rescue
Founded1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Berkeley, California
FoundersAlice Berkner, Raymond Balter, James Harris, Ralph Steiner, Joshua Lichterman
TypeNon-governmental environmental organization
FocusEnvironmentalism, Conservation biology, Wildlife rehabilitation
Location
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
JD Bergeron, CEO
Websitewww.birdrescue.org
Formerly called
International Bird Rescue Research Center

International Bird Rescue is a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates injured aquatic birds, most notably seabirds affected by oil spills. Founded by Alice Berkner and members of the Ecology Action, including veterinarian James Michael Harris, D.V.M. in 1971[1] and based in Cordelia, California, the group has developed scientifically-based bird rehabilitation techniques and has led oiled wildlife rescue efforts in more than 200 oil spills worldwide, including the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where International Bird Rescue co-managed oiled bird rehabilitation efforts in four states with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research.

Formerly known as International Bird Rescue Research Center, the organization cares for an estimated 5,000 birds annually at two rehabilitation centers, the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care and Education Center and the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center, that also serve as primary care facilities for oiled birds in the event of a spill in California. Common bird species treated include brown pelicans, common murres, western grebes, Pacific loons, and a variety of gulls, herons, and other waterfowl.

International Bird Rescue is a member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN),[2] which is managed by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine on behalf of the State of California.

History

[edit]

1970s

[edit]

On January 19, 1971, two Standard Oil tankers, the Arizona Standard and the Oregon Standard, collided near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, resulting in a spill that covered 50 miles of coastline with 2,700 cubic tons of crude oil.[3][4] About 7,000 birds were oiled by the spill. Volunteers collected nearly 4,300 of them, mainly western grebes and scoters, and brought them to makeshift rehabilitation centers. Only about 300 were released — in part given the lack of established oiled bird rehabilitation practices at the time. "There were dying birds everywhere and no one knew what to do. It was as horrible as you can imagine," Jay Holcomb, International Bird Rescue's former executive director, told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2012.[5] "It was then that we realized there needs to be an organized attempt for their care."

While documented rehabilitation efforts of oiled seabirds in California dates back to the 1940s, the 1971 San Francisco Bay Arizona & Oregon Standard spill, and the 1969 Santa Barbara/Union Platform A spill that preceded it, spurred new efforts to create permanent rehabilitation facilities and programs, as well as to monitor seabird mortality resulting from spills.[3] Alice Berkner, a retired nurse and animal lover who assisted in oiled bird rehabilitation following the Standard Oil accident, became the first Executive Director of International Bird Rescue — originally called International Bird Rescue Research Center — in May 1971.[6] The fledgling organization was housed in a small space above the Berkeley Humane Society, and in 1975 moved to Berkeley's Aquatic Park on a $5-per-year lease from the city.[7]

The early ethos of the organization was one of seabird conservation through partnership with the oil industry. In 1977, International Bird Rescue signed its first oil spill response contract with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. "My attitude was not that of the stereotypical environmentalist of that time, but that of a consumer who accepted responsibility for what could result from petroleum consumption on an individual and even species level," Berkner recalled. "I felt it important to develop a cleaning technology that could lessen impact on oiled, endangered and threatened species, and that by responding to spills involving more numerous species, precarious populations of birds would not be subject to experimentation when oiling occurred."

Through the 1970s, International Bird Rescue was responsible for a number of important journal articles.[8][9][10][11]

1980s and 1990s

[edit]

By the mid-1980s, the organization had become a leading source of expertise in the wildlife rehabilitation field, pioneering new techniques and co-publishing such guides as Rehabilitating Oiled Seabirds: A Field Manual (1986).[12] Advancements made included best practices for washing oiled birds, warm water pool therapy, and net bottom cages to help prevent sternum and hock lesions in diving birds, auks, and other aquatic species.[13] In 1986, Jay Holcomb became executive director of the organization.[14]

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the organization's oiled wildlife response efforts extended well beyond California. International Bird Rescue staff spent six months managing three bird centers and two search-and-collection programs in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, where 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Alaska's Prince William Sound, killing between 100,000 and 250,000 seabirds.[15] Exxon Valdez was the first major spill where field stabilization and transport were utilized extensively in oiled wildlife care.[16]

Following the Exxon Valdez incident, Congress passed and President George H. W. Bush signed into law the U.S. Oil Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990. Among other requirements, the law mandates more stringent oil spill contingency planning by industry that included oiled wildlife emergency response.[17] OPA, along with California's Lampert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, led to new programs to collect data on mortality rates and develop seabird restoration programs.

Several bills passed in California in the mid-1990s led to the creation of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), formed as part of the Office of Spill Prevention and Response and administered by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.[18] New rehabilitation facilities, such as those currently managed by International Bird Rescue, were designed to prevent disease transmission among avian patients and to minimize historic challenges associated with animal husbandry.[3]

2000 onwards

[edit]

During the 2000 Treasure Spill near Cape Town, South Africa, International Bird Rescue was mobilized by its partner in international oil spill response, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), to assist the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) in a massive effort to wash and rehabilitate more than 20,000 oiled African penguins.[19] More than 90% of the oiled birds captured were released. In addition to the rehabilitation program, CapeNature initiated a large-scale capture program on nearby islands and successfully relocated more than 19,500 non-oiled penguins.

International Bird Rescue saw perhaps the most extensive international attention of its near-40-year existence in 2010 following the explosion of Deepwater Horizon, a semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling unit owned and operated by Transocean and leased by BP on the Macondo Prospect oil field in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion and resulting fire on April 20, 2010, killed 11 workers and caused a sea-floor oil gusher that spewed 4.9 million barrels of crude oil before the wellhead was capped on July 15, 2010. The disaster remains the largest accidental marine oil spill in petroleum industry history.[20] International Bird Rescue teamed up with Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, the lead oiled wildlife organization on the ground, to co-manage oiled bird rehabilitation centers in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida as part of a large-scale response to the incident that involved federal and state agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations. More than 8,000 oiled birds were captured and collected both dead and alive, according to government figures,[21] with 1,246 birds released back into the wild.

International Bird Rescue's efforts to save oiled birds during the spill were prominently featured in the Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary Saving Pelican 895, which chronicled the step-by-step rehabilitation efforts of a single juvenile brown pelican.[22]

Post-Deepwater Horizon oil spills that International Bird Rescue has responded to include the Rena spill in New Zealand (at the request of Massey University's Wildlife Health Centre)[23] and the Yellowstone River Silvertip Pipeline Spill Incident,[24] both occurring in 2011.

A bitumen release in the Alberta Tar Sands in the summer of 2013 also led to a wildlife response by International Bird Rescue in partnership with two Canadian wildlife organizations.[25]

Jay Holcomb, International Bird Rescue's executive director, director emeritus and an internationally known wildlife advocate, died on June 10, 2014, of kidney cancer. During his tenure he was a recipient of Oceana's Ocean Heroes Award, the John Muir Conservationist of the Year Award and the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.[26] Following his death, Barbara Callahan, a longtime senior staff member of International Bird Rescue who trained under Holcomb and serves as global response director, was appointed interim executive director of the organization by the board of directors.[27] In 2015 JD Bergeron was appointed Executive Director. Later the board changed his title to Chief Executive Director.

Major oiled wildlife response efforts

[edit]
International Bird Rescue Research Center responders check out an oiled brown pelican at the stabilization site at the Grand Isle, Louisiana marine lab, during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill

International Bird Rescue has responded to oil spills in countries such as the United States, France, Norway, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Ecuador, Argentina, and New Zealand. Among the most high-profile oiled wildlife response efforts include the 2011 Rena spill in New Zealand, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the 2007 Cosco Busan spill in San Francisco Bay, the 2002 Prestige spill in Galicia, Spain; the 1999 MV Erika spill in Brittany, France; and the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

Oiled bird care protocol

[edit]

When a bird becomes oiled, its feathers can mat and separate, exposing the animal's sensitive skin to temperature extremes. The bird also typically ingests petroleum as it attempts to preen the oil off its feathers. As a result, oil exposure can lead to dehydration, kidney damage, and hypothermia or hyperthermia, among other serious health conditions.

After collection, each oiled bird is stabilized, which includes nutrition, hydration, and medical treatment before it is considered for a wash, as unstable birds may die from the resulting stress of the procedure.[28] Once stable, an oiled bird goes through a series of tub washes with a low concentration of Dawn dishwashing liquid in clean water. Scientific studies dating back to the 1970s had identified Dawn,[29] a brand owned by Procter & Gamble as the most effective detergent for removing petrochemicals from bird feathers, replacing earlier methods using solvents and products such as mascara remover, powdered chalk, and mineral oil.[30] Additional research in 1995 confirmed that Dawn was the best available cleaning detergent for oiled wildlife because it easily removed oil without damaging a bird's plumage, irritating its skin, or posing additional health problems to the animals or the people involved in rehabilitation efforts.[3]

After washing, the bird is taken to a separate rinsing area where a special nozzle is used to completely rinse the solution, as any detergent or solution left on its feathers can impair waterproofing. The bird is then placed in a protective, net-bottomed pen equipped with commercial pet grooming dryers, where it will begin to preen its feathers back into place. A tight overlapping pattern of the feathers creates a natural waterproof seal, which enables the bird to maintain its body temperature and remain buoyant in the water.

Post-wash, rehabilitation staff closely monitor a bird's waterproofing as it recovers in warm and then cold water pools.

Aquatic bird rehabilitation

[edit]

In addition to its oiled wildlife response efforts, International Bird Rescue cares for sick, injured, abused, and orphaned aquatic birds at its two year-round wildlife care centers in California.

Common human-caused injuries to aquatic birds include habitat destruction, plastic pollution, fishing hook lacerations, and fishing line entanglements. Some of these injuries are deliberate (and often illegal), such as gunshot wounds, beak cutting, pelican pouch slashings, and clipped wings.[31]

International Bird Rescue routinely cares for a variety of species. Among the most commonly treated include brown pelicans, western gulls, northern fulmars, western grebes, American coots, American white pelicans, eared grebes, common murres, Pacific loons, common loons, black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, mallard ducks, and Canada geese.

While International Bird Rescue specializes in treating seabirds and other aquatic birds, the organization is also capable of working with non-aquatic birds, including owls,[32] hawks,[33] doves, finches, hummingbirds, pigeons, sparrows, and wild turkeys.[34]

In January 2015, birds found along the eastern shore of the San Francisco Bay were found coated in a sticky substance, not crude oil, and were sent to IBR for cleanup efforts. Upwards of 200 birds were potentially affected. The source of this "mystery goo" has not yet been identified.[35]

Awards

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Articles of Incorporation" (PDF). 27 April 1971. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Oiled Wildlife Care Network". UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
  3. ^ a b c d Newman, S.H., Ziccardi, M.H., Berkner, A.B., Holcomb, J., Clumpner, C. & Mazet, J.A.K. (2003). "A historical account of oiled wildlife care in California" (PDF). Marine Ornithology (31): 59–64.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ McCarthy, Susan. "Bird Rescue in the 1971 Tanker Spill". Western Neighborhoods Project. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  5. ^ Jones, Carolyn (April 24, 2012). "International Bird Rescue celebrates 40 years". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  6. ^ Jordan, Larry (26 September 2012). "International Bird Rescue Believes "Every Bird Matters"". 10,000 Birds. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Founder's Story". International Bird Rescue. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  8. ^ Harris, James M. (1974). "Treatment of Oil-Soaked Birds" (PDF). Current Veterinary Therapy V, Edited by Robert W Kirk, Pp. 564–566. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ Smith, David C. (March 1974). "Rehabilitating Oiled Aquatic Birds" (PDF). International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings. 1975 (1). San Francisco: 241–247. doi:10.7901/2169-3358-1975-1-241. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. ^ Harris, James M.; David C. Smith (1977). "Treatment, Husbandry and Rehabilitation of Oil-Soaked Birds" (PDF). Current Veterinary Therapy, Edited by Robert W Kirk, Pp. 694-697. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ^ Berkner, Alice B.; David C. Smith; Anne S. Williams (March 1977). "Cleaning Agents for Oiled Wildlife" (PDF). International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings. 1977 (1). New Orleans: 411–416. doi:10.7901/2169-3358-1977-1-411. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ^ Williams, Anne S., Burridge, Jeff & Kane, Meryl (1986). Rehabilitating Oiled Seabirds: A Field Manual. Washington, D.C.: Amer Petroleum Inst. p. 79. ISBN 0893640565.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Holcomb, J.; Russell, M. (October 2003). "30 Years of Oiled Wildlife Response and Statistics". Proceedings of the 7th International Effects of Oil on Wildlife, Hamburg, Germany.
  14. ^ Nishi, Dennis (May 10, 2010). "A Lifesaver for Birds in Distress". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  15. ^ Graham, Sarah (December 19, 2003). "Environmental Effects of Exxon Valdez Spill Still Being Felt". Scientific American. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  16. ^ "1989, Exxon Valdez, Alaska". International Bird Rescue. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Oil Pollution Act Overview". Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  18. ^ "OWCN History". Oiled Wildlife Care Network. Retrieved 13 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ University of Cape Town: Avian Demography Unit, Department of Statistical Science. "The Treasure oil spill: Effects on the wildlife of Table Bay and particularly on the endangered African Penguin". Retrieved 3 January 2013.[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ "BP leak the world's worst accidental oil spill". The Daily Telegraph. August 3, 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  21. ^ Brubaker Calkins, Laurel (April 12, 2011). "BP Spill Fine May Undercount Dead Turtles, Birds, Group Says". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  22. ^ "Saving Pelican 895". HBO Documentaries. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  23. ^ Massey University. "Rena Oiled Wildlife Response, Tauranga". Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  24. ^ "Yellowstone oil spill has spread farther, Exxon Mobil says". Los Angeles Times. July 5, 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Crews working around the clock to deal with wildlife after Alberta bitumen spill". Edmonton Sun. August 1, 2013.
  26. ^ "John Muir Conservationist of the Year Award". johnmuirassociation.org
  27. ^ "Jay Holcomb, 1951-2014". International Bird Rescue. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  28. ^ "How Oil Affects Birds". International Bird Rescue. Retrieved 13 December 2012.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ "How Dawn Became Detergent of Choice". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  30. ^ Viegas, Jennifer (May 11, 2010). "For oiled wildlife, Dawn cleans best". Discovery News. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  31. ^ Janes, Nick (September 5, 2012). "Pelican Nursed Back To Health After Cruel Case Of Animal Abuse". CBS 13 Sacramento. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  32. ^ Kelway, Paul (April 6, 2012). "The Owl in the Attic and Rehab Complexities". Huffington Post. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  33. ^ "Friday Rounds: Washing a Sharp-shinned Hawk". International Bird Rescue. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  34. ^ Dmytryk, Rebecca. "Turkey Shot with Arrow Rescued". Vimeo. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  35. ^ "S.F. Bay bird rescue: Mystery goo bedevils experts". 20 January 2015.
[edit]