An oiled Common Murre rescued on Christmas Day is starting the new year on a hopeful note – thanks to a swift rescue and expert care.
Rescued from Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, CA, by Katia Bassett, the murre was stabilized in care with fluids and heat before undergoing a wash by our skilled staff. Now on the path to recovery, this bird is well on its way to returning to the wild. Without intervention, its survival would not have been possible.
A few days later, another oiled Common Murre was rescued 50 miles northwest at Point Reyes National Seashore. A wildlife biologist responded to Drake’s Beach to capture the bird and transport it to Bird Rescue, where it has undergone the same treatment.
Oil spills leave a lasting impact on coastal ecosystems, as seen along the San Mateo coastline. In December 2015, Bird Rescue received nine oiled birds contaminated with bunker oil from the S.S. Jacob Luckenbach, a cargo vessel that sank in 1953 about 17 miles west-southwest of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Additionally, migrating birds are at greater risk of passing through naturally occurring oil seeps during the fall and winter months. Pelagic birds like murres, loons, and grebes will beach themselves so they can attempt to preen off the oil. It’s crucial to recognize this behavior as a clear sign they need help.
To report oiled wildlife sightings, please call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) Response Hotline at (877) UCD-OWCN.
Saving Murres Amid Environmental Challenges
A recent study in Alaska revealed that Common Murres have experienced the largest known die-off of a single bird species. Approximately 4 million murres, roughly half of the state’s, perished from starvation due to a massive two-year marine heatwave known as “the blob” in summer 2015. This event raised ocean temperatures by up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit, severely depleting the fish stocks essential to the murres’ survival.
That same year, Bird Rescue treated 468 murres, an extraordinary number, throughout the summer and fall seasons. Most of them were malnourished chicks.
In the face of unprecedented challenges like climate change and marine heatwaves, our dedicated team works tirelessly to rehabilitate affected birds, giving them the best chance of survival.
By symbolically adopting a murre in care, you can support us in providing the care they need to ensure their successful return to the wild.