Seabirds hit by mystery pollutant
SEABIRDS blighted by a mystery pollutant are being cared for at a Teignmouth rescue centre.
Jean Bradford, who was honoured with an MBE in the New Year's Honours List for her work, is caring for more than 20 birds which have been washed up along the South Devon coastline.
-
Jean Bradford
Reports suggest 21 birds have been found in Brixham and Berry Head, 15 in Teignmouth, 12 at Coryton Cove near Dawlish and one in Torquay.
Teignmouth fishing boat Girl Rhona has supplied thousands of sprats to the South Devon Seabird Trust, operated from Jean's home.
Holiday Home FOR SALE in Brixham, South Devon £2500 OFF any Regal...
View detailsHoliday Home FOR SALE IN BRIXHAM WITH SEA VIEWS over looking St. Mary's Bay beach. Come and take a look today. ONE WEEK ONLY. Facilities on site. Pools, Ents, Club, Shop. Quiet park with stunning area
Terms: Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or with a P/X on park. Come and take a look today and own your own part of South Devon. For allot less than you can imagine!! Letting permitted
Contact: 01803 220485
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
She said: "We still have no idea what this substance is, but on one of the birds it was so thick I had to scrape it off using my fingernail."
She said the birds in her rescue centre and others at West Hatch in Dorset were the 'lucky ones', but many more are still at sea or on inaccessible rocky outlets and are unlikely to survive without help.
The Environment Agency has concluded the substance is a type of refined mineral oil which is not vegetable or animal-based.
It is trying to further establish the chemical make-up of the substance to locate the source.
The RSPB has said the scale of the pollution suggests the source is way out to sea.
Jean said she was sent an email suggesting a marine engine lubricant, which does not break down in seawater, may be responsible.
There are also theories the substance could have been discharged from a vessel or may have been a lost cargo.
Jean said: "The truth is we may never know what caused this."
She is cleaning the dry birds with shower gel and washing up liquid.
Noel Hughes, Berry Head countryside officer, said rangers started to recover affected seabirds last Thursday.
They found 16 from a rock ledge at Berry Head quarry on Thursday, two on Friday and two dead birds on Saturday.
A further 11 were seen, but could not be reached.
Mr Hughes said guillemots usually return to breeding grounds in January.
Berry Head hosts a colony all year.
Mr Hughes said: "I think we are seeing the stronger ones who are making it back because of their breeding instinct or because they know they are in dire straits and have to make it back to rest.
"There could be many more out there that, because the substance has destroyed their ability to preen and replenish their natural oils, they are unable to waterproof themselves, unable to stay dry and are therefore unable to fish."
Mr Hughes said guillemot numbers at Berry Head were within a 'gnat's whisker' of the January average and slightly up on last year's figures.
He said: "Things are not looking desperate at the moment, but until we are way into the breeding season it is hard to tell."
Dart Vale Vets have treated four guillemots at their practice in Brixham.
Vets Kevin Davidson and Chris Bamford have been tube feeding the sick birds with special re-hydration fluids before they are taken to the RSPCA cleaning centres in Exeter and Taunton.
The birds have been brought in by concerned members of the public and the local RSPCA animal collection officer.
3 Comments
by robocop1982
Friday, February 08 2013, 2:13PM
“i bet all these people in this story are driving home petrol powered vehicles and using products made from crude oil. were they honoured for that?”
by robocop1982
Friday, February 08 2013, 2:08PM
“i still don't think many people understand the serious or damage the gulf of mexcio oil spill caused. People are ignorant to the fact oil spillage is a constant factor of crude oil drillign oprations. some people don't realize everytime the drill goes through the sea bed this causes massive pollution and its a daily thing. nobody really knows what the outcome of oil drilling the earth for oil is going to cause. it may trigger a catastrophy. Is it really worth it for a few a bunch of car manufactures”
by robocop1982
Friday, February 08 2013, 2:02PM
“the chemicals they are using to clean these birds are made from crude oil based chemicals. so they are effectively bathing them in the chemicals that are what have caused them harm in the first place. nearly all the chemicals we use are all crude oil based or have some chemical ties to crude oil. just imagin what it must be like for the species that live on the sea bed close the drilling rigs”