Oil+spill+birds

~ Birds that have been effected by oil spills ~

** Every year at least half a million water birds die from oil spills! **  Birds die from oil spills if their feathers are covered in oil. The bird will then be poisoned because it will try to clean itself. Animals may die because they get hypothermia, causing their body temperature to be really low. They may die from really low body temperature. Oil may also cause the death of an animal by entering the animal’s lungs or liver. The animal will then be poisoned by the oil. Oil also can kill an animal by blinding it. The animal will not be able to see and be aware of their predators. If they are not aware of other animals, they may be eaten. As soon as a bird is found a rehabilitationist takes it in and treats the internal affects of the oil in the animal. If it is sevear they may need to pump the oil out and then give it medicine to help the bird fight against the affects from the oil. Then they put the bird in a wash tub and wash around the mouth and rectal area first with speacial formulated soap that help wash away the oil. Then they will wash out the wings and the rest of the body. If a bird is left with the oil on it for to long the oil will burn its skin, its eyes so then it will become blind, its feathers will stick together so it cant fly again so this will stop the bird from being able to dive down and catch fish and the internal effects of the bird will most certainly cause death. Everyone can help birds by volenteering at oil spill sites and cleaning up shores. By doing this it will stop any other animals from getting harmed while experts gather up the effected wild life and try their best to rehabilitat them.