This came thru on Texbirds list serve today. I felt it should be shared w/
Ohio birders. Hopefully, if we get the word out [on the various listserves
around the country] this massive wild life tragedy will come to light and BP
will be on the hot seat.
Sue YOST ~^/^~
Denton Co.
Dallas, TX
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding discussion list for Texas [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Uneeda
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 2:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [texbirds] BP: Sham of Wildlife Rehabilitation
Dear Texbirders,
The issue of wildlife rehabilitation is not being addressed effectively by
BP. Tri-State Bird Rescue is in Venice, La. They have received very few live
birds proportionate to the numbers actually being affected. Most of the
birds, turtles, dolphins, etc., are washing up dead. However, teams are not
being sent out to capture oiled birds and other wildlife suffering from the
effects of the oil and dispersants. In order to save the wildlife the animal
must be brought into the facility to be cleaned. With no one going out to
retrieve birds and other animals the wildlife of the Gulf of Mexico is
sentenced to a slow and painful death.
Experienced individuals from the gulf coast states have signed up with BP to
volunteer for capture, cleaning, and medical triage work. Some of us have
been on a sign up list for more than a month. We have worked at other oil
spills. We have had the required OSHA training. Many of us have had advanced
training since working at past spills. We know how to work safely and
effectively with wildlife. However, BP never calls with an assignment or
information as to where our services are needed. We are not asking to be
paid. We want to help. However all we are ever told is to "Stand by and BP
will notify when BP deems it necessary." Meanwhile the wildlife is dying and
nothing meaningful is being done! The photos taken June 3, 2010 at East
Grand Terre Island, LA by AP Photographer Charlie Riedel prove birds are
coming ashore alive but heavily oiled. Without help they die, simple as
that! BP has a list of thousands who have volunteered to help with wildlife
rehabilitation but refuses to call any of the volunteers to help bring in
the wildlife for rehabilitation.
In my opinion, BP doesn't want the American public to see the carnage they
have caused. BP appears to be hoping most of the wildlife and birds will die
off shore and sink to the bottom of the Gulf. Out of sight, out of mind!
Hopefully the news media will investigate the issue of wildlife deaths and
the supposed good faith efforts BP claims to be doing. It is all a dog and
pony show for the media, the Whitehouse, politicians, and the American
public. Wake up America! The efforts to save our wildlife should not be in
the hands of BP. The massive rehabilitation effort needed must be directed
by local rehabilitation facilities experienced with oil spill contaminated
wildlife. Resources should and could have been activated at the beginning of
this catastrophic event. The only thing BP has done is set up the "show"
facility at Venice and claim that a significant number of wildlife has not
been found. People, the birds do not come to you, people must go out and
collect them for clean up. If you don't believe look at the photos at:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/06/caught_in_the_oil.html . Please
don't let BP get away with this sham of rehabilitation.
Sincerely,
Uneeda Laitinen
[log in to unmask]
TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at:
http://moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds
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