Warning: Graphic images of suffering birds below.

On Sunday, November 11, I joined Tony Brake, Yvonne McHugh, Pat Bacchetti, Sam and Elizabeth in a survey of oiled birds organized by Golden Gate Audubon in the wake of the Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay. We covered the south shore of Alameda, including Elsie Romer Wildlife Sanctuary, Crown Memorial State Beach, Crab Cove Marine Reserve, and parts of the former Alameda Naval Air Station.

We found about 60 oiled birds, including a few covered nearly from head to toe. In addition to the species depicted below, we saw oiled Horned Grebes, Great Blue Heron, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Mew Gull and Western Gulls. The birds appear to have been oiled elsewhere and then traveled to Alameda, because we didn't see any oil on the beach or water. Either oil from the spill didn't reach this area, or the booms that were strung across the water worked to keep the oil out.

The birds were reported to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) via San Francisco 311, and some may be rescued and rehabilitated, but most will probably die from hypothermia (because oiled feathers lose their waterproofing and insulating properties) or poisoning from ingesting oil while attempting to preen their feathers.

If you spot oiled birds in the Bay Area, report them to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (877-823-6926) or San Francisco 311 (311 from San Francisco; 415-701-2311 from outside San Francisco).

Thanks to Tony Brake for the use of his photos of the Cosco Busan, and to San Francisco for taking oiled bird reports on their 311 service and relaying the information to OWCN.