CURRENT METHODS OF OILED BIRD REHABILITATION 



Anne S. Williams 



INTRODUCTION 



The staff of the International Bird Rescue Research Center believes that 

 although the process of oiled bird rehabilitation is difficult and expensive, 

 the effort is worthwhile. The techniques that we have developed, and the 

 experience that we have gained with each oil spill incident may someday help 

 maintain a threatened local seabird population or an endangered aquatic species. 

 This information will make the job easier for those preparing for or supervis- 

 ing an oiled-bird emergency effort. 



We are not yet able to rehabilitate birds in sufficient numbers to have 

 any biological significance. Bird deterrent techniques and rapid oil contain- 

 ment and clean-up methods are of much greater importance at present in protecting 

 aquatic birds from losses resulting from oil pollution. In response to the 

 public mandate that oiled birds be cleaned, techniques are available for 

 rehabilitating significant numbers of those birds affected in a short time, 

 thereby greatly reducing cost and labor requirements. 



METHODOLOGY 



FACTORS FOR SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION 



Since the inception of the Center following the San Francisco Bay spill 

 of 1971, the staff has treated more than 1,500 birds in local spill incidents, 

 38 percent of which were released (Table 1). 



Table 1. Summary of the number of oiled birds rehabilitated at 

 the International Bird Rescue Research Center, 1973 to 1976 



Received Released 

 Year (Number) (Number) 



218 



26 



199 



154 



597 



125 



