Research during these years was a varied, far from concerted, effort. 

 Attempts were made to find substitutes for the uropygial secretion. Sperma- 

 ceti and lanolin in hexane, waxes in solvents, waxes in detergents, and waxes 

 alone were applied to the feathers of cleaned birds. All substitutes failed 

 to produce waterproof plumage. It was suggested (Beer 1970) that the induc- 

 tion of molting to replace affected feathers might be a solution to the oiled 

 bird problem. However, molt is one of the least understood and most stressful 

 physiological functions in birds. Extensive research would be needed to de- 

 velop practical induction of molt. Even then, the stress of molting added to 

 the stress of captivity would surely result in low survival. 



The search for answers to oiled bird treatment was not limited to feath- 

 ers. The effects of oil, both external and internal, were investigated. 

 Lincoln (1936) suggested that contaminated birds ingested harmful amounts of 

 oil. Hartung (1963, 1964) proved this beyond a reasonable doubt when he ad- 

 ministered, by stomach tube, oil to domestic mallards. The birds developed 

 loss of mobility, diarrhea, loss of coordination and balance, and tremors. 

 Necropsy showed enteritis and lipid pneumonia as well as changes in the liver, 

 pancreas, and kidneys. 



Dehydration appears to be another side effect of oil ingestion. For 

 some time it was thought that sea birds did not drink seawater but obtained 

 needed fluid from food only. It was assumed that intake of salt water would 

 result in dehydration and that the nasal gland, particularly well developed 

 in birds, produced a secretion that rinsed seawater from sensitive nasal 

 membranes. Schmidt-Nielsen et al . (1958) disproved this with the discovery 

 that fluid excreted by the gland was almost twice as salty as seawater. Sea 

 birds did drink seawater and excess salt not processed by the kidneys was 

 eliminated through the nasal gland. Ticehurst (1938) provided another clue 

 to the effects of oil ingestion. After observing oiled sea ducks seeking 

 fresh water he stated: "they appear to be poisoned by something in the oil 

 which they swallowed when preening to rid themselves of it." Other investi- 

 gation indicated that the ingestion of oil may interfere with the salt and 

 water transport mechanisms in the intestinal musosa (W. N. Holmes, personal 

 communication). Dehydration is seen in many oiled birds and this finding 

 would explain it. 



The wreck of the Torrey Canyon off the coast of Britain in 1967 and the 

 resulting spill of approximately 119,000 tons of crude oil affected thousands 

 of sea birds. For the first time there was worldwide focus on the problems 

 encountered with oiled birds. The cleaning attempts, both in England and 

 France, despite a joint effort, were dismal failures. The disaster did have 

 one beneficial side effect. As a direct result of the wreck, the British 

 Subcommittee on the Rehabilitation of Oiled Sea Birds of the Advisory 

 Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea set up a research unit at the Depart- 

 ment of Zoology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, to investigate the prob- 

 lems of oiled bird rehabilitation. 



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