NorCal non-profit works to save birds killed by mysterious substance
FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- A mysterious material is affecting hundreds of birds in Alameda County in Northern California. Twenty have already died after their feathers became coated in the strange, sticky substance. While the state investigates, a non-profit is trying to save the birds.
"This should all be white. And this is what we're looking at, it's kind of crusty and hard." explained Michelle Bellizzi, with International Bird Rescue.
Bellizz is referring to a grey, goopy gunk that's coating the birds' feathers and taking away their protective outer layer.
"Once you break that feather coat, you've got a hole in their down jacket and they get cold and these guys were wet all over," she said.
Eighty-nine seabirds were rushed to the International Bird Rescue Center on Friday from the water off Hayward, San Leandro, and Alameda.
They were swimming in the stuff, which then became embedded in their feathers. Twenty birds died of hypothermia.
"Definitely concerned about it," said San Leandro resident Tim Gilmore. "I mean, this is where my family lives. It's nice to be able to come out here and enjoy the water and the scenery and that's gonna affect everything."
Rescue officials have never seen anything like it.
"We've received almost a hundred birds in less than 24 hours, so that's a significant influx," said Julie Skoglund with International Bird Rescue. "We've had to call in several emergency staff, we've called in our entire volunteer force to come in and help out."
It takes two volunteers and 30 minutes to clean each contaminated bird. And they're using just basic household products like baking soda, vinegar, and Dawn dish soap.
Caring for the contaminated birds is time consuming. They're stressed, scared, and sick.
It'll take at least a week for them to recover. The hope is that Fish and Wildlife investigators will have found the cause of the mystery material by then.
International Bird Rescue is paying for all emergency care costs at this time and is seeking public support. If you'd like to help, click here.
