Working To Save Seabirds Affected by Santa Barbara Oil Spill

Photo Tuesday, May 19, 2015 of what looks to an oiled Red-throated Loon. Photo courtesy of Lara Cooper/Noozhawk.com
Oil spill victim: A Red-throated Loon was one of the first birds photographed on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 showing the severity of the Refugio oil incident. Photo courtesy of Lara Cooper/Noozhawk.com
Photo of captured Oiled Brown Pelican
Oiled Brown Pelican was one of the seabirds captured this week. OSPR photo

The International Bird Rescue (IBR) has teams on the ground helping with the search and collection of oiled wildlife at the Refugio Incident oil spill in Santa Barbara County. Our center in San Pedro, CA has been mobilized to treat any oiled seabirds.

As a member of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) we are providing the best possible care to impacted wildlife. IBR has over 44 years of experience working on oil spill all over the world. See our history

As of Wednesday night, 5 Brown Pelicans are have been rescued. These numbers are being reported by the California Office of Spill Response (OSPR). California state officials have setup an oil spill incident page with more information.

The public is urged to call and report any oiled wildlife @ 877-UCD-OWCN.

A 24 inch underground pipeline burst Tuesday morning near Refugio State Beach about 20 miles NW of Santa Barbara. At least 21,000 gallons of crude oil, specifically Las Flores Canyon OCS (Outer Continental Shelf), spilled into a culvert that led to the ocean.

Officials in Refugio Joint Information Center (JIC) estimate a worst-case scenario of up to 2,500 barrels (105,000 gallons) of crude oil was released from the pipeline.

The news media should contact the JIC by calling (805) 696-1188.

4 thoughts on “Working To Save Seabirds Affected by Santa Barbara Oil Spill”

  1. I’m a local (Goleta). Is it possible to get involved for the current emergency? I’m used to handling animals at least (but it’s only the local cat shelter!).

  2. hi. I am interested to learn if the brown pelican rescued by Reeve Woolpert survived or his/her condition? thank you

  3. Terrible to see my hometown getting hit again. Thanks to IBRRC for their tireless efforts to save oiled birds!

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