On Wednesday November 7th the Cosco Busan container ship side-swiped one of the western anchorages of the San Francisco Bay Bridge spilling 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel oil that is now coating birds and other wildlife. Unless these birds are rescued soon, the oil spill potentially will endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of birds that live in these coastal waters. As of Friday, November 9th, the Coast Guard said 16 beaches have been closed because of the oil spill.

Bunker fuel spills are extremely toxic to marine life, especially birds that float and feed through a spill. The oil inhibits the birds ability to thermo regulate and they become cold as their natural insulation in their feathers break down. The birds spend most of their time trying to preen the oil out of feathers and thus ingesting the oil into their systems. Weakened they will often beach themselves and fall prey to predators or die from the toxic effects of oil.

IBRRC was activated immediately to search and rescue birds affected by the spill. Locally IBRRC is part of California's Oiled Wildlife Care Network. Any oiled animals will be brought to the Oiled Wildlife Care Wildlife Center for treatment. The center is managed in partnership with IBRRC. Fore more information or to help the IBRRC rescue and care for these birds, please click here International Bird Rescue Research Center.