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Local Volunteers Head to Gulf Coast to Rescue Birds from Oil Spill
Volunteers from a San Pedro bird rescue facility are working in the Gulf Coast region to help "save as many birds as possible after the British Petroleum oil-rig disaster," according to abc7.
Hundreds of birds, such as pelicans, are washing ashore in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida, and washing them is a "time-consuming process," necessary in order to ensure their survival. It can take up to an hour for an International Bird Rescue and Research Center volunteer to wash the bird, which follows medical treatment that sees the birds are fed, hydrated, and healthy enough to go through the washing. Luckily, once the Center initiates care for the bird, the survival rate is high.
For now, once the birds have been cleaned and treated, the Center takes them to the east coast of Florida. The cost of the bird rescue is all part of the cleanup tab that's going to British Petroleum.
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