Hurricane Refuge and Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Short Term Effect in Gulf Coast Delta Bird Rescue

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill impact on Gulf Coast bird rescue becomes more frightening after the top kill failure. The failure seems to bring home for many the gravity of the situation. The overtaking of the Exxon Valdez spill as the worst spill in American history resonates with the public. The combined threat of BP’s latest attempt failing and the start of the Atlantic hurricane season this week overhang the Gulf region. It is estimated that if the latest attempt fails then the oil will flow freely until August. This is the expected time it will take to complete a relief well. However if this does not go to plan or storms in the Gulf disrupt efforts the time becomes open-ended. The Gulf bird rescue plans are now crucial to the Gulf bird populations.

The regions bird populations will be under immense pressure to survive intact should oil overrun their natural habitats. Whilst the oil spill already threatens the Gulf bird life a hurricane spreading the oil more aggressively and over a wider region would be devastating. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has three major concerns for Gulf bird life. The first concern is for individual birds being contaminated by oil. The next concern is the reduced food supply for birds from the contamination of seafood stocks. Finally there is the threat of oil to bird habitats. ABC has identified 10 Gulf Coast locations where oil damage could severely undermine bird populations. Gulf Coast bird rescue after the oil spill has reached a critical time line.

The American Bird Conservancy has identified three major concerns to the Gulf Coast bird life. These concerns are magnified by the length of time the oil well is gushing oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Should there be an active hurricane season in the Gulf oil may become widely distributed to additional areas. This could lead to long-term damage to Gulf Coast bird populations.

George Fenwick, the American Bird Conservancy’s president said “What is difficult to measure is the loss of future generations of birds when birds fail to lay eggs or when eggs fail to hatch.”

The Initial Threat

The initial threat to the bird population of oil contamination is already being seen. The first oil soaked birds have been picked up by wild life rescue units. They have been sent to wildlife rehabilitators in the Gulf Coast region. There is an unknown number of birds killed or dying. This would include the many 'plunge-diving' birds in the region. These species include pelicans, gannets and terns.

Threat to Seafood Stock

The oil spill has threatened seafood stocks as evidenced by the ban on Gulf fishing and threat to the Gulf Coast oyster marine ecosystem. Oil has contaminated seafood stocks and this will only get worse with the oil dispersing chemicals being used. The heavy oil is also constricting oxygen to seafood stocks. The seafood stocks are also the foundation of much of the regional coastal economy. These industries include fishing, shrimping and crabbing.

Threat to Bird Habitat

Finally as the spill grows the concern is affects to the Gulf Coast bird habitats. The ABC has identified a number of ‘Globally Important Bird Areas directly in the path of the advancing spill that are under immediate threat.’ This is highlighted in the above map of the Gulf Coast and the key bird regions. Oil contamination can lead to birds’ nests being damaged. Birds’ eggs can be contaminated when they come into contact with oil. Birds’ natural breeding cycles can be thrown out of whack when birds are forced from contaminated areas. They may migrate to marginal breeding sites or sites running at maximum occupancy.

The ABC has identified 10 key regions on the Gulf Coast where birds could be harmed from oil contamination. It should be pointed out that in some cases the marine ecosystem may take decades to recover from this oil spill. This will wipe out not only bird populations but also communities along the Gulf Coast that are dependent on the fishing and seafood industry. Other than the social and economic damage this also effects the bird population negatively. The Gulf Coast communities have worked head in hand with nurturing the marine ecosystems and birdlife. That will be lost when it is most needed.

The following is the 10 regions at risk per the American Bird Conservancy website.

Gulf Coast Least Tern Colony
This is one of the world’s largest colonies of the threatened Least Tern

Lower Pascagoula River, including the Pascagoula River Coastal Preserve
The coastal marshes at the mouth of the Pascagoula river support Yellow and Black Rails, Snowy Plovers, and endangered wintering Piping Plovers.

Gulf Islands National Seashore
The seashore is the host for thousands of wintering shorebirds. These include endangered Piping Plover, Wilson’s Plover, and American Oystercatcher. Other birds on the seashore include the Brown Pelican, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White Ibis, and Black Skimmer. 

Breton National Wildlife Refuge, including the Chandeleur Islands
This is the largest tern colony in North America, predominantly of Sandwich, Royal, and Caspian Terns. Other birds include the American Oystercatcher, Brown Pelican, Reddish Egret, and endangered Piping Plover. This region is an important wintering area for Magnificent Frigate bird and a stopover site for Redhead and Lesser Scaup.

Dauphin Island 
The Island is an important stopover site for migrant birds including shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, and rails.

Fort Morgan Historical Park
This is an important stopover site for migrant birds including shorebirds, gulls, terns, herons, and rails.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
This is an important stopover site for thousands of trans-Gulf migrants.

Eglin Air Force Base
The air force base is best known for its inland population of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Elgin also has significant coastal habitat for shorebirds and wading birds

Delta National Wildlife Refuge
Large numbers of wading birds nest here. The wading birds include White Ibis, Snowy Egrets, and herons. Thousands of shorebirds use the mudflats in winter and during migration. These shorebirds include Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Western Sandpiper. Also the endangered Piping Plover.

Baptiste Collette Bird Islands
These artificial barrier islands were created from dredge spoil. These are some of the many Louisiana coastal islands that could be affected by the oil spill. Birds found here include Caspian Tern, Brown Pelican, Gull-billed Tern, and Black Skimmer.

If you would like to help and limit the Deepwater Horizon oil spill impact on birds ABC has the following contact numbers listed.

To report oil on land, or for general community and volunteer information, please phone the BP response hotline on 866 448-5816 866 448-5816

To report oiled or injured wildlife, please phone 866 557-1401 or 866 557-1401.

Volunteer opportunities exist in the Gulf Coast states, go to www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/oilspill.html

Fishermen wishing to offer assistance in cleaning up the oil spill should phone the Vessel of Opportunities Program at 281 366-5511 281 366-5511. This is for Shrimp boats, oyster boats, and other vessels are being hired to deploy booms.

The funding for the cleanup costs and for remediation of the habitat will come from BP. ABC will be paying close attention to make sure they fulfill their obligations.

Currently we brace for any Hurricane and Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Impact on Birds on the Gulf Coast. We await the attempts by BP to stop the well over the next week; failure sees the relief well as the most likely solution. This would mean an August ‘stop leak date’. An extended hurricane season if disruptive could push the ‘stop leak date’ to as late as Christmas. Spare a thought for the bird life, the marine ecosystem and the Gulf Coast communities that are facing such trauma ahead. Gulf Coast bird rescue measures are critical for whole Gulf Coast bird populations.