Oil Spills

I spend a lot of time at Pier 14. I go out there almost every day at lunch and photograph the birds as they come and go. Occasionally I see a freighter, a container ship or an oil tanker pass underneath the Bay Bridge. I see the ships come in with water streaming from their anchor holes and I see them leave with smoke spewing from their stacks, partially burned bunker oil that pollutes our air.

But in all those times, I never once dreamed that one of those ships would hit the bridge and spill even a drop of fuel into our water. But it happened. I know there have been spills in the bay before this, yet it still numbs my brain to think about it.

Today at lunch I walked to the pier and saw my first oil-soaked duck. I think it was a Ruddy Duck, but it was so covered with oil that I could not make an ID. In addition, where ten Western Grebes had been sleeping out by the pier each noontime, only three were there today and all three had oil on their white feathers. I photographed everything. But I do not wish to put these photos up on this site. There have been enough photos of birds that have suffered through negligence, I don’t wish to add any more. Tomorrow, instead of birding, I am going oil hunting on the bay.

There is a lot that people can do to help. Birders can go out and check the shore for oil on the beaches and birds that are covered and report these. Go to out of the way spots, the more coverage of the bay we have, the fewer birds that will die and time is critical.

If you see a sick bird, do not touch it. The oil is very toxic and without proper protection you can make yourself sick. Report the bird to: 1 877 823-6926. Be specific as to type of bird, number sick or dead and the location. Leave your name and a call back number.

If you spot oil on the water or shore call this number: 1 985 781-0804

For more information go to this link…

http://www.ibrrc.org/Cosco_Busan_spill_2007.html

Oh and say a prayer, it might help.

Best to all,

Glenn