Gulf Oil Slick

[AtLast]

Thank you so much for [osting this information). I admire your didication to wildlife. I am trying to get certified to help clean birds, etc. and this is just what I needed to find out how. Ya' gotta know what the hell you are doing to be able to assist with these magnificient creatures. I certainly could be a grunt, too. Hoping I can figure a way. Thank you and all of the people trained in these services and giving time to these efforts.

This is exactly why I am tired of some of the criticism of Obama about his consulting with experts. You don't send people in that do not know what the hell are doing! Organizing these efforts (and getting the people with these skills) from all over the country (the world) is not an easy task. Many of us can get at least entry-level disaster training in our communities. This can even be helpful when things like this happen.

Originally Posted by violaine

i follow the oil spill from audubon, nwra [national wildlife rehabilitators association], http://www.nwrawildlife.org/home.asp ,
noaa, as well as other news -

http://www.salon.com/news/louisiana_..._sketchy_plans

people who are licensed and certified post emergency spilled oil cleanup, for wildlife rehabilitators, and then pass required examinations/training may be contacted pretty soon. [i've been listed since the incident, and ready to go should i be called upon in the next few weeks. the audubon and nwra are working the same way- which is great- the application process, certification, and so on, the concerted effort for these organisations.]


last email from audubon:

Another Tough Week But Some Good News, Too

As we all know, even guarded optimism regarding BPs efforts last week to stop the Gulf oil leak turned out to be misplaced. But once again there is at least a glimmer of hope on the horizon, with today’s news that efforts to place a containment cap over the well appear to have been more successful. That said, this is at best a short term and partial measure, as it would enable some of the spewing oil to be siphoned to a tanker on the surface.

Meanwhile, NOAA has expanded the Gulf’s “no-fishing” zone, oil has reached Alabama’s Dauphin Island and begun washing up on north Florida beaches, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has confirmed oiled birds from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Details are sketchy but you can see the lastest US Fish and Wildlife report on captured and dead wildlife here (PDF). Although not every captured or dead bird is a result of the spill, this presents an important picture of impacts on wildlife.

This crisis is clearly going to be with us for many months to come — and beyond — with a long-term solution not anticipated before relief drills can be completed in August. Audubon’s Melanie Driscoll highlighted some of the recovery’s challenges for Audubon magazine’s blog. However, as anyone who is following the latest developments and the recent photos from the spill can attest, you don’t need to be on location to feel heartbreak and even despair as you see its toll on wildlife.

As the crisis deepens, so does the need for a multi-pronged and coordinated response. Fortunately, Audubon’s Oil Spill Volunteer Response Center (learn more here), launched in Moss Point, Mississippi this week, will enable us — and many of our committed volunteers — to play an increasingly important role in that response.

The center will serve as the hub for our recovery effort throughout the Gulf. Under the direction of Sean Saville, National Field Director for Audubon, volunteers are already staffing the center and scheduling other volunteers in a range of essential tasks, including assisting in the transport of injured and oiled birds, creating transport cages, and answering the center’s Bird Hotline.

Here are a few excerpts from one volunteer's account of her time helping to ready oiled birds for transport:

"While there I put together pet taxi's. Tie wraps work so much faster and easier than the screws Since there aren't any large animals going into the pet taxi's, a tie wrap on each corner is enough to hold them together. I placed the oil absorbant pads in the bottom...I was put in charge of making sure all the incoming birds were labeled with the coordinates where it was picked up. I wrote the coordinates on paper and gave it a number which I wrote on a piece of duck tape and stuck on the pet taxi. That way I remembered what boat the birds came off of in case there was a question...Thanks for giving me chance to experience this. I really enjoyed today and look forward to tomorrow."

We will be ramping up this week, ensuring that dedicated and trained volunteers, like Christine above, are on hand to meet the evolving needs of the recovery effort. Here is some of what they will be doing:

•Volunteer Response Center Staff — scheduling volunteers, identifying and coordinating engagement with new projects, logistical support, arranging training, office management, etc.
•Coastal Bird Survey — collecting data and photos on bird resources and impacts across the coast according to specific scientific protocols.
•Wildlife Transport Facilitator — assisting USFWS and Tri-State Bird Rescue with round-the-clock shifts in key locations for injured/oiled wildlife recovery and transport operations throughout the coastal region.
•Bird Capture and Rescue Materials — volunteers are needed to make nets, cages and other materials to assist trained professionals in oiled bird rescue efforts.
•Citizen Science Monitoring — submitting electronic information on birds sightings at Important Bird Areas, refuges or sanctuaries to assess population impacts, numbers of target species or species of concern.
•Bird Hotline Operators — providing on-site bird expertise for our Volunteer Response Center as well as possibly in field offices of BP, Tri-State Bird Rescue and others involved in response efforts to address issues related to bird sightings, handling, species identification, etc.

Audubon is very grateful for our dedicated volunteers — and we simply can’t say that enough! It is important to know that even if you are not on the frontlines, it is your commitment that is making it possible for us to make a real difference — even in the face of this unprecedented challenge — for birds, wildlife and communities throughout the Gulf region.

more on volunteering-

http://www.alabamarivers.org/press-r...update-5-14-10

[violaine]

you are welcome. here is what i've learned from emails, talking with other wildlife bird rehabbers, and attending webcast overviews: unless someone has bird handling experience/is already licensed, working on a state or federal permit [and the latter are becoming more difficult to come by- you could check out the NWRA link, which should list information about licensing], the professionals/paraprofessionals will go in first. in fact, the very first question in order to actually receive oil spill work certification for handling birds [exam covers wildlife rehabbing questions/safety/osha] - is whether or not you are licensed.

this spill is so massive, i cannot conceive of knowledgeable volunteers being turned away to help wildlife in peril, if a shortage of help arises. experience in other areas besides WR could be taken into consideration. also, a few of the working conditions listed, like the types of oil, smells- oil itself/birds, protective gear, stress, heat, and so on, is something to seriously think about, while the desire to help may be strong, for individuals who have asthma, and/or other health issues, not a good scenario.

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

This is exactly why I am tired of some of the criticism of Obama about his consulting with experts.

Wow, I totally missed that. He's being criticized for consulting with experts? I really do live in the land of the truly stupid, don't I?

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by MsDemeanor

Wow, I totally missed that. He's being criticized for consulting with experts? I really do live in the land of the truly stupid, don't I?

And the latest attack from Faux News Whack-Winger Wagon comes after he made the kick in the ass comment... its un-presidential, and street talk (really love that one, some racism in that one?). Prior to this, they were all over him about not emoting about it. Hummm... I guess Bush's massacre of the English language as in misunderestimated and I am the decider are presidential?

Again, I have my own criticisms of him about some things, but, I] forfucksakes!

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

And the latest attack from Faux News Whack-Winger Wagon comes after he made the kick in the ass comment... its un-presidential, and street talk (really love that one, some racism in that one?). Prior to this, they were all over him about not emoting about it. Hummm... I guess Bush's massacre of the English language as in misunderestimated and I am the decider are presidential?

Again, I have my own criticisms of him about some things, but, I] forfucksakes!

Oh, it's happening at Faux Newz. That's to be expected - they're just manipulative idiots. I thought that you were referring to, you know, actual news stuff (though I have to use the term loosely these days) from actual news places or from people who actually think and stuff. Even the racism is to be expected.