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Dubai Star Spill, SF Bay, CA, October 30, 2009
Oiled Wildlife Sightings Hotline: 1-877-823-6926 (1-877-UCD-OWCN) - call if you observe any live or dead oiled wildlife in California.
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PRBO Oil Spill Response Team Update: 11/02/09
Over the weekend, PRBO’s Oil Spill Response team was present each day at the center to coordinate intake and processing of the birds while six other staff members, trained and certified to handle and collect oiled wildlife, joined the team from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (UC Davis) for “search and collection” – scouring the shoreline of the bay and safely collecting oiled birds. So far the most common bird species brought to the center is the American Coot, but unlike many oil spills offshore, this spill is affecting many shorebirds too including Dunlin and dowitchers. The grebes and diving ducks like Surf Scoter, scaup, and Ruddy Ducks are also being brought to the facility.
If you would like to monitor the official number of birds affected you can visit the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (www.owcn.org) website.
U.S Coast Guard update
San Francisco Chronicle’s story (October 30, 2009).
Dubai Star Spill Summary (October 30, 2009)
Oil that was being transferred from a barge to an oil tanker (Dubai Star) was reported as being spilled into the bay south of the Bay Bridge on October 30, 2009 at 7:35 am, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Currently it is unclear how much oil has spilled or if there are any impacts to wildlife.
Members of PRBO's oil spill response team, a key participant in the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, are on the way to the scene to assess impacts to birds and wildlife. Other members of the team are standing by and ready to be activated in case we are needed to help with field response or oiled wildlife documentation and processing.
This may be the same type of fuel spilled by the Cosco Busan in November 2007. This spill appears to be much smaller than the 50,000 gallons spilled during the Cosco Busan event. However, it is too early to know for sure. Please visit http://www.prbo.org to learn more about the recent oil spill and we will keep you posted on future significant developments.
