To effectively treat birds and animals injured in future oil spills in Hawai’i, a permanent oil treatment facility should be established, says a state Department of Land and Natural Resources official. Oil-damaged birds could be treated more quickly, increasing their
To effectively treat birds and animals injured in future oil spills in Hawai’i, a permanent oil treatment facility should be established, says a state Department of Land and Natural Resources official.
Oil-damaged birds could be treated more quickly, increasing their chances of survival, said the official, who asked not be identified.
Without such a facility, “there is a delay in our ability to respond because we have to wait for a (treatment) site to be found,” the official said.
The need for a permanent facility became apparent during the 1998 Tesoro Hawai’i oil spill, when two temporary sites were set up — one on Maui and one on Kaua’i, the official said. On Kaua’i, a boathouse was converted into a makeshift facility to treat birds.
During the 1998 spill, 34 birds were brought in for rehabilitation. Nineteen were released, 13 died, one was euthanized and one is in permanent captivity, the official said.
More birds survived because of the steady search and collection efforts by authorities and the public.
Birds with oil on them can die if they aren’t found, captured and treated.
Even a small patch of oil on feathers can be deadly to a water bird, the official said. When the oil penetrates the feathers, water that comes in contact with the bird’s skin can rob the bird of its body heat. Consequently, the bird will be reluctant to dive into the ocean for food, starve and die.
Birds also can become sick by preening themselves and trying to remove the oil, the official said.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
