Category: Oil spills
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I volunteer at a wildlife rescue center, one which specializes in aquatic birds. Sometimes volunteers and staff apologize to the birds. What's that you have in your hand? Oh, a camera? Are you sure? It can't take temperatures, can it? A Red-throated Loon is brought in and has an intake exam, in…
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It seemed like a grave ceremony at a turtle temple. A silent line of identically-dressed people lifted turtles from tanks one at a time. Each turtle was carried in the same ritual position and taken through the same stations. A wand was waved over each turtle. Quiet words were murmured. Inscriptions were made. Tags were…
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In Fort Jackson, Louisiana, the little bird having the oil washed off was struggling passionately. I couldn't figure out what it was. Not a gull, not a tern – could it be a rail? No, surely not. I was told it was a black skimmer. But I've seen skimmers (Rynchops niger). They don't look…
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Everyone knew this but me, I guess. On the right beaches, clams will tickle you. I was recently in Gulf Shores, Alabama, wondering how the oil spill clean-up was getting along. It was getting along great. At least on this beach. I'd never visited Alabama beaches. The sand was luminously pale, almost as white as…
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Oil spill oil takes different forms. It can manifest as an iridescent sheen, a viscous stinking black layer, tarballs, an orangeish mousse. Oil spill regulars can weigh the effects of different oils on smirched animals. Bunker C Crude versus diesel? Diesel is worse. Spilled oil changes. Last week I visited the Deepwater Horizon wildlife rescue…
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Wildlife rescue professionals responding to the Deepwater Horizon spill have been working very hard for months now. Oddly, they're kind of touchy when you mention people who've recently been saying that it shouldn't be done at all. They're mostly polite, but they talk faster and start peer reviewing right on the spot. The contrarians say…
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