Birds face long road to recovery (San Fran oil spill)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.thereporter.com/ci_7435128?source=most_viewed

Birds face long road to recovery
By Brian Hamlin/Senior Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/11/2007 07:28:00 AM PST

Workers at a Cordelia wildlife center are working around the clock to save hundreds of birds caught in the largest San Francisco Bay oil spill in nearly 20 years.

The 58,000-gallon spill occurred Wednesday when a large container ship slammed into the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge escaped serious damage, but the side of the ship was ripped open and bunker fuel from the vessel spread quickly across the bay, polluting water and endangering wildlife.

As of 7 a.m. Saturday, the San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife and Education Center in Cordelia had received 198 live birds that had come in contact with the spill, most of them from the East Bay. Another 98 birds died, according to veterinarian Greg Massey, a response veterinarian with the oiled Wildlife Care Network.

The birds received so far, said veterinarian Mike Ziccardi, a Network director, is probably the beginning of the influx of affected birds that may be coming into the rescue center this weekend.

"This usually starts off slow, so we are expecting animal numbers are going to increase today and possibly tomorrow," Ziccardi explained.

The Center has a capacity for 1,500 birds and can be expanded to handle more if necessary.

FULL story and photos at link.

[robinlynne]

1. My mom lives 60 miles north of san fran, and says there are dead birds everywhere.