Berkeley, California (Thursday, November 8, 2007, 12:45 p.m.) – One duck and a grebe, soiled from yesterday's ship collision and ensuing oil spill, are being cared for at the Berkeley Animal Care Shelter while officials wait for the birds to be picked up by the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

     In addition to the effect on the wildlife, an oil sheen was becoming visible in the harbor and oil globules were seen on the south side of the pier, outside the breakwater. Both the oil sheen and the globules were diffuse over the area. Because of the scarcity of the contaminants and the fact the tide has begun to go out, there are no closures and restrictions currently in place at the Berkeley Marina. Neither the US Coast Guard nor Department of Fish and Game have issued any recreational advisories for the Berkeley Marina Area. Advisories have been issued for the S.F. and Marin county areas to stay out of the water.

     Residents and visitors who see injured or oil-soiled birds should call the IBRRC hotline at (877) 823-6926. Do not try to clean the birds yourself! The IBRRC advises people to protect yourself when attempting capture. Cover the animals eyes with a blanket or towel before picking them up and, make sure they are in a secure container with ventilation when transporting them. Never put them near your face, and then, follow these five rules:

• Keep the animal warm, 80-90 degrees.

• Don't feed it or give it fluids.

• Keep it in a secure, dark container or kennel.

• Stay quiet around it and don't constantly look at the bird.

• Get it to a rehabilitation hospital as quickly as possible.

• Never keep the animal or try to treat it yourself!

     Visit the IBRRC webpage about the COSCO BUTAN spill here: http://www.ibrrc.org/Cosco_Busan_spill_2007.html.

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