June 7th, 2010

This post was received from a “friend of the wilderness” who wishes not to be identified, but tells a revealing story about how oiled seabirds are treated in Louisiana.  DV

I returned from Ft. Jackson after days with Tri-State and IBRRC.  Very impressive, hard-working and organized groups I might add.  They were contracted by BP to handle the oiled wildlife (some exceptions like sea-turtles, dolphins etc). 

I will tell you that when I arrived last Monday morning there had been about 52 birds processed to date (excuse the word ‘process’ – I couldn’t think of another).  Some  wild guesses would be that they had maybe 25 still there and 14 of those were taken on Saturday by Fish and Wildlife to be released somewhere in Florida. .. the turn around time being around 10 days.
 
That was the entire spill total after what, 5 weeks?  Something seemed very wrong, at least to us few volunteers (the rest were all staff from California, Delaware and elsewhere).   But…..
 I think it was Thursday night……….they started coming by truck, boat and helicopter.  It was like MASH.
 

By the time I left last night (Sunday night) there were over 300 badly oiled birds logged, mostly pelicans, (and during their nesting season).  They are the lucky ones.  The staff was busy building new cages, adapting the physical plant to accommodate the space needed and bringing in more staff and volunteers.    Think of over 300 mostly pelicans, badly oiled or recuperating, in one place.  Their fish needs alone are staggering.
 
It was very hard work.  If I were 30 again I would still be there.  But I am going back.