The "Birds" are Dangerous....

By: Paula Kolmar:
BP Oil Blog Post- 20 June 2010

Michelle is a specialist in caring for seabirds, and she's an expert in rescuing and rehabilitating seabirds injured by oil spills. We are fortunate to be able to have Michelle caring for injured birds in Alabama as part of the response to the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas spill.

I wanted to understand why authorities repeatedly have warned the public not to handle injured birds, but instead instructed people to report the location of injured birds and leave it to specialists to rescue the animals. One look at a distressed, oiled pelican arriving at the center answered part of my question. The birds are dangerous and can be aggressive when under stress.

Michelle has an endless compassion for seabirds, even though she says they hate her. Wild and free seabirds diving for fish in the Gulf of Mexico or just floating on the water become heavily distressed when oil gets on their beaks, feathers and feet or if they eat something oiled. It gets worse as they are transported in a car or van to the wildlife hospital. By the time humans begin to handle, tag and clean them, the birds are disoriented, afraid, confused and angry. As a result, Michelle says they can be dangerous to people, other birds, and themselves.

Understanding what an animal is going through - plucked out of sticky oil and put into the world of man - gives Michelle the passion and staying power to get the seabirds ready for release as quickly and safely as possible. Watching her and the staff care for them, I can see that it is a heartbreaking experience. More importantly, the work must be performed by people trained to collect and treat the seabirds without endangering themselves or adding further distress to the birds.

One bird rescued, is one victory. Over the coming months, there will be many victories and some painful losses. Michelle, and center managers like her all along the Gulf Coast, are using every ounce of their experience, skill, and compassion to assure far more victories. They will do so for as long as it takes.
 
IMHO: It will NEVER be righted!