Tracking Wildlife

One major question we face after oiled wildlife are treated and released is what is the immediate fate of the released animal?  Given that some animals may travel 1000s of kilometers after they are released, it is a difficult task to follow them.  As a result, OWCN has been involved in various post-release tracking studies using radio and satellite tracking technology.

These past few weeks, I was in north-eastern Montana with partners from PRBO Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund putting satellite tags (called PTTs – Platform Transmitting Terminals) on a common California wintering shorebird, the Long-billed Curlew.

Photo: Nils with recently trapped Long-billed Curlew by its nest on the Matador Ranch in Montana

The Long-billed Curlew is found using agricultural fields (especially in the Central and Imperial valleys) and at estuaries along the coast in California from about July through April.

During the Montana trip, we put PTTs on breeding curlews.  Once activated, the PTTs beam a signal to a series of satellites in space; the orbiting devices plot the bird’s location and then beam the information back to Earth.  Via computers, we get the daily locations of birds that we will use to map out the migration routes of these birds.  We hope to follow the curlews from their breeding grounds in Montana to their wintering areas (probably in Mexico).

Photo: Satellite tag (PTT) on a just released Long-billed Curlew

This satellite technology that we are now using to study how curlews move through their global landscape will be used in future oil spill research projects to help us answer the vexing question of what is the fate of post-spill, released birds.

- Nils

OWCN at State Scientist Day

Kaiti (left) and January at 2009 State Scientist Day (Photo courtesy CAPS)

On Wednesday May 20, the OWCN joined many other state agencies on the West Lawn of the State Capitol at the 21st annual State Scientist Day.  Nearly three thousand third to sixth grade students from 30 elementary schools throughout the Sacramento valley learned if they “Got Science?” through hands-on exhibits and experiments.

The OWCN team, led by January Bill and Kaiti Ferguson, manned the Recovery and Transportation mobile clinic (also known as the “RAT Rig”), which acts as a field stabilization center during large oil spill events. Partnering with the Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), our exhibit included a tour of our mobile care unit and an overview of the impact oil spills have on the environment and wildlife. All of the children that participated were very enthusiastic to learn about how we care for oiled wildlife even if they were mildly disappointment when they learned that the bird decoy we used was just a prop and not real.

Yvonne Addassi (DFG-OSPR) addresses the media, with OWCN's RAT Rig in background (Photo courtesy CAPS)

Students also learned about chemistry, preventing pollution, conservation of natural resources, and the importance of plants, insects, and other wildlife through information provided by many other state agencies. State Scientist Day is sponsored by the California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS) each spring to promote science education and encourage students to explore careers in science.

This is the fourth year the OWCN has assisted in this event, and we are excited to be part of these ongoing efforts to encourage children’s interest in science and nature. It was inspiring to learn how knowledgeable young children already are about the impact of oil spills and to hear that they are genuinely concerned about their impact on the environment.

- Mike and January

It’s Only Make Believe

Yesterday the OWCN conducted a full deployment drill at the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center (MWVCRC) in Santa Cruz. We conduct these exercises for different primary care facilities one to two times per year. They provide an opportunity to simulate how each facility will be used during an oiled wildlife response and remind staff and volunteers how everything works.

A temporary structure was erected to add flexibility and space for holding animals

During the exercise bird decoys were used to practice intake exams, folks actually put on personal protective equipment (even though there was no oil), and we tested various systems throughout the building.

Veterinarians Amy Wells and Melissa Miller examine an "oiled" bird decoy

 

 

Don Ballard checks air flow in the intake room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to testing people, equipment and facilities, we also worked through different scenarios that might develop during an oil spill. OWCN’s response facilities don’t sit idle when there’s not a spill. Member organizations and other cooperating groups conduct rehabilitation, education and research programs every day in these facilities. So when an emergency happens and things shift into oiled wildlife response mode, the normal daily routine for these groups is disrupted. Response exercises provide an opportunity to work through this transition when there is no emergency, so when a spill happens – and things have to move quickly – the process will be smooth and efficient.

G

Mike Ziccardi, Dave Jessup and Julie Yamamoto discuss how to manage seabirds and sea otters in the same response facility

-Greg

Oil Spill Exercise Over

The Elkhorn Slough full deployment drill is now over. The OWCN team is on its way back to Davis.

-Alison

Elkhorn Slough Spill Update (DRILL)

THIS IS A DRILL. THERE IS NO ACTIVE SPILL AT THIS TIME.

Animals recovered during the spill are currently being stabilized on-site and are then being transferred to the San Francisco Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center in Cordelia (Fairfield) where they will continue to receive care.

Further updates will be provided as they come in.

-Alison

Oil Spill Exercise

THIS IS A DRILL. There is no active oil spill at this time.

The OWCN is currently on a full deployment drill. THIS IS A DRILL ONLY.

The drill scenario is this: A southbound train has derailed by the extremely rich habitat of Elkhorn Slough (near the city of Santa Cruz). Two of the rail cars have overturned and one of them is leaking. The OWCN has been activated. More information will be posted on this blog as it comes in.

Alison
Publications Coordinator

New Field Ops Position

The OWCN is excited to be adding to our Oil Spill Response Group – we are looking for a Wildlife Field Operations Technician!

As a result of the Cosco Busan oil spill, the OWCN has officially been put in charge of wildlife capture (under OSPR’s oversight) during oil spills in California.  We are currently working on training and readiness, but need another energetic, skilled individual to help us move our program forward.

This new position will work with Dr. Nils Warnock, our Wildlife Field Ops Supervisor, to support wildlife field operations by assisting in the capture, stabilization, and transportation of oil-affected wildlife. During non-spill periods, this hire will assist in maximizing readiness for oiled wildlife field operations through training, planning, drilling and maintaining necessary equipment and supplies.

Specific job description and details may be found on the UC Davis Career Opportunities web site. The preferred application date is on or before 1 June 2009.

Should you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Nils Warnock at ndwarnock (at) ucdavis.edu or me at mhziccardi (at) ucdavis.edu. Please also pass this notice to anyone you feel might be interested in this novel and exciting new position!

- Mike

Full Deployment Drill

Wash tables at San Francisco Bay Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center

Responding to oil spills is one of the roles the OWCN fulfills. However to effectively respond to oil spills means not only having the equipment and personnel, but also having our facilities prepared.

One of the ways we make sure our primary care facilities are prepared is by conducting drills. These drills can range from simple exercises conducted over the phone to the full-deployment of staff and resources to walk through setting up a facility.

The OWCN is currently preparing for a full-deployment drill on Thursday, May 21. The drill will be based at the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care Research Center (MWVCRC) in Santa Cruz, and will simulate setting up a facility for an oil spill response. Even though the drill will be based at  the MWVCRC, that doesn’t mean your organization won’t be drilled. The drill can always be extended to include other member organizations, so keep your phones lines open!

In case you don’t hear from us, don’t worry. We’ll be sure to fill you in on all the fun!

-Kaiti, Volunteer Coordinator

Summer at SFBOWCEC

Quick follow-up on last post:  If you were tuned in last time, I was discussing several fracture cases that were being managed at SFBOWCEC.  I’m happy to report that of the four birds, three were released.  This included two brown pelicans with wing fractures and  a Western gull with a femur fracture.  Unfortunately the fourth bird, a second-year glaucous-winged gull with an ulna fracture did not heal well and had to be euthanized.

So, on to other topics.  Spring is arriving at the center so I’ll take this opportunity to post some gratuitous cute baby bird photos for your viewing pleasure.  Photos were taken by Marie Travers, assistant rehabilitation manager for the International Bird Rescue Research Center program that operates out of SFBOWCEC.

First up, of course, mallard ducklings.

mallard ducklings

The center receives several hundred (meaning ~600-800 mallard ducklings) each summer.  We also receive wood ducks, gadwalls, and occasionally Northern shovelers.  The upside is that because ducklings are precocial, they require very little parental care.  The downside is, the eat a tremendous amount, and what comes in must go out.  Thankfully, as of last summer, we have been working with an egg salvage group in Durham, CA, Rancho Esquon (www.ranchoesquon.com) that has been taking most of our ducklings and raising/releasing them.  This leaves us much more time to deal with other babies, such as Canada geese.

Canada goslings

One of my personal favorites.  We get several dozen of these every season.  They are so cute that we have to resist the temptation to dote on them since they become imprinted on people very easily.  An imprinted goose will not fear people as an adult and may even be aggressive, so this is definitely something we try to avoid.  Luckily, IBRRC has had good success with “rehoming” goslings by strategically introducing them into a family of geese with similarly sized young.

Canada goose family

We are just beginning to receive young herons and egrets, which keep us very busy in the summer.  A few of the species we commonly see:

Black-crowned night heron

Green heron

Snowy egret

These birds nest in large communal colonies (rookeries), several of which exist in the area (Santa Rosa, Davis, Napa State Hospital and others).  Young often fall from their nests and are brought to wildlife rehabilitation centers.  These birds are also quite precocial and able to feed themselves almost right away.  However, because these birds are so long-limbed and gangly often fall from nests high in tree, they sometimes come to us with severe injuries, such as fractures.

Other species that we commonly care for in the spring and summer are:

Various species of gull (this is a Western gull)

American bitterns

Common murres

Killdeer

So, this is what we have to look forward to for the next few months.  Its rough, I know.  Actually, the first couple dozen of anything is cute, but after that, a little of the appeal is lost.  Anyway, until next time, Cheers!

Shannon, Clinical Veterinarian

SFBOWCEC

Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day

Celebrate birds on International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), typically the second Saturday in May (tomorrow).  For a review of the event and lists of sites near you that recognize this day see: http://www.birdday.org/

One sobering yet stimulating document that you might want to read in honor of IMBD is the recently released report from the U.S. Dept. of Interior called The State of the Birds – a pdf version is available at: http://www.stateofthebirds.org/pdf_files/State_of_the_Birds_2009.pdf

This figure is from The State of the Birds report:

Species of Conservation Concern

For seabirds, the main group of birds affected by oil spills, 39% of species are declining, 37% stable,  12% increasing, and too few data exist on 12%. Threats to ocean birds include fishing bycatch, pollution, problems on breeding grounds, and food supplies altered by rising ocean temperatures.

- Nils