254 



K. G. HAY 



People Problems 



Handling an over-responsive and emotional 

 army of bird-cleaning volunteers and training 

 them to play constructive roles is a major 

 undertaking. Planning, cooperation, under- 

 standing, patience, and clear direction must 

 be developed. In the absence of these virtues, 

 chaos can and has prevailed. 



The San Francisco Bay oil spill of 1971 was 

 a classic example. There was virtually no 

 State or Federal coordination. Splinter 

 groups of volunteers established their own 

 "treatment centers" and jealously guarded 

 their patients. Some actually absconded with 

 their pet patients to seek better care else- 

 where. Long hours, fatigue, and frustrations 

 led to dissension and bitter quarrels. Anties- 

 tablishment sentiment was rampant. 



Instant experts on bird cleaning, avian 

 medicine, and nutrition appeared or developed 

 overnight. Veterinarians volunteered their 

 services, but their knowledge of oiled-bird 

 treatment was limited. A wide variety of food 

 (from canned dog food to live shrimp) was 

 given the birds. Forced feeding was routine. 

 Medications and vitamins of all kinds were 

 also administered. Needless to say, the states 

 of the art in treating oiled birds and handling 

 volunteers were both in their infancy. For 

 both, the success ratio was near zero. 



To prevent such fruitless efforts and the 

 frantic, unorganized response that prevailed, 

 a well-designed contingency plan for wildlife 

 involved in an oil spill is needed. 



Contingency Planning 



It is only prudent to take reasonable meas- 

 ures to prepare for oiled-bird emergencies. 

 This is especially true in regions where bird 

 concentrations and oil shipment traffic con- 

 verge. Almost equal attention must be de- 

 voted to handling volunteers as to handling 

 birds. Safety is a major consideration. The 

 sharp beaks of birds can be very dangerous. 



A model State contingency plan should in- 

 clude the following: 



A list of State and Federal agencies to be 

 alerted, including 24-h, 7-day-a-week tele- 

 phone numbers, and names of individuals to 



contact. 



Clarification of the roles of State and 

 Federal agencies under the Regional Re- 

 sponse Plan of the National Oil and Hazar- 

 dous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. 



A list of State and Federal laws pertaining 

 to possession of birds and mammals. 



An updated roster should be maintained of 

 team members, assignments, and responsibili- 

 ties for inland and marine spills, including dis- 

 covery and notification, record keeping, pub- 

 lic information, containment and counter- 

 measures, wildlife protection, and cleanup, 

 restoration and evaluation of effects on the 

 biota. 



A list of individuals or organizations that 

 possess skills and experience in treatment of 

 oiled birds (locally and nationally). 



Location of emergency wildlife reception 

 and treatment centers. 



A list of the necessary supplies, equip- 

 ment, and holding facilities for cleaning, treat- 

 ing, drying, and post-care operations. Such in- 

 formation can be obtained from: 



California Department of Fish and 

 Game, Oil and Hazardous Materials 

 Contingency Plan (July 1974) 



International Bird Rescue Research 

 Center, Aquatic Park, Berkeley, Cali- 

 fornia 94710 



American Petroleum Institute, 2101 L 

 Street, Northwest, Washington, D. C. 

 20037 



Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, 84 

 Grove Street, Upton, Massachusetts 

 01568 



An organizational plan which includes as- 

 signments of duties and responsibilities for 

 personnel manning a bird-cleaning center. In 

 addition to bird cleaning and husbandry, as- 

 signments must be made for record keeping, 

 internal communications, public relations, 

 logistics (supplies), security, sanitation, 

 safety, and meals. 



A slide lecture or film to instruct volun- 

 teers in the correct techniques for handling, 

 cleaning, and post-care of oiled birds. 



A selected bibliography of key references 

 on oiled-bird cleaning and care. 



Appendices to the plan should include 

 maps of the major coastal oil terminals, bays, 

 and estuarine areas with heavy oil transport 



