MILLIONS OF MIGRATING BIRDS HEADED TOWARD GULF OIO SPILL MESS

[OneCrow]

Millions Of Migrating Birds Headed Toward Gulf Oil Spill Mess

posted by: Beth Buczynski 17 hours ago

Although the BP oil spill disaster is taking
its toll on thousands of human Gulf Coast residents, it's the non-human
residents that are
taking the brunt of the impact.

Images of oil-soaked brown pelicans, dead dolphins, and endangered sea turtles continually remind us that innocent wildlife will suffer the most severe consequences of the oil that continues to
flow into the Gulf of Mexio an astounding 10+ weeks after the Deepwater
Horizon exploded.

Thanks to the hard work of conservation scientists and volunteers from around the world, experts say the toll
on sea birds from BP's Gulf Coast oil spill is smaller than was
anticipated. At least for now.

Scientists predict that shifting weather and sea conditions will soon create a dangerous
situation in which sea birds, simply following their instinctual
behavior patterns, will fly right into the deadly oil spill mess.

In the coming weeks, millions of waterfowl and other birds that flock to
the Gulf Coast on their annual fall migration will arrive in the region
either to roost for the winter or to make brief stopovers en route
farther south.

With toxic crude still gushing from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico and streaks of the slick creeping inexorably
farther inland, many more birds and other wildlife that nest, feed and
find shelter on shore are likely to become casualties. (MSNBC).

Officials are scrambling to prevent thousands of avian fatalities from adding to
the environmental devastation in the Gulf. So far wildlife experts are
working to minimze risk by using containment boomts to cordon off
rookeries, asking local farmers to flood their fields so they can be used as temporary bird-friendly wetlands, and issuing new duck hunting restrictions.

Jay Holcomb, head of the International Bird Rescue Research Center told
MSNBC that authorities may even be forced to capture baby pelicans to
move them out of harm's way. A similar evacuation procedure is already
underway to save endangered sea turtle eggs.