First responders resource guide
for seabird emergencies
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
CONTENTS
1.
INTRODUCTION
1
1.1 NSWcoaStalbirdS
2
2.
COMMONENTaNglEMENTS/INjURIES
8
2.1 YourSafetY
2.2 recordkeepiNg
2.3 commoNeNtaNglemeNtSaNdiNjurieS
2.4 patrolS/clueStoeNtaNglemeNtaNdiNjurY
2.5 captureprioritieS
2.6 thereScuekit
2.7 haNdliNg
2.8 capturemethodS
2.9 firStaidiNthefieldforcommoNiNjurieS
2.10traNSport
2.11releaSiNgbirdS
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8
9
11
13
13
14
17
25
27
29
3.
MaRINEOIlaNDChEMICalSpIll
31
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
31
34
36
37
38
4.
CONTaCTSaNDOThERRESOURCES
41
4.1 refereNceS
4.2 publiShedreSearchaNdotherreSourceS
4.3 iNterNetreSourceS
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41
42
iNtroductioN
prepariNgforaNemergeNcYreSpoNSe
participatiNgiNaNemergeNcYreSpoNSe
recoveriNgfromaNemergeNcYreSpoNSe
majoroilSpillcaSeStudieS
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
introduction
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First Responders Resource Guide 2014
1.1 NSWCOaSTalbIRDS(1,2)
Cormorants
Pied cormorant 65-80 cm
Sub-familyPhalocrocoracinae
Little black cormorant 58-65 cm
blackorpiedwaterbirdsthatfrequentestuaries,rivers,
mangroves,coastalareasandrockycoastalislands.
•longnecksandtails.
•Shortlegswithallfourtoesjoinedbywebbing.
•hookedbeak.
•Swimanddiveforfish,yabbiesandshrimp.
•Wingsarenotwaterrepellentsotheyspreadtheir
wingstodry.
•buildanestoverwater,breedmostmonths.
•allcommonandnomadic.
Little pied cormorant 55-65 cm
WARNING
Great (black) cormorant 70-95 cm
2
All cormorant species have razor-sharp beaks with a
large hook at the end that can cause serious damage.
Gannets also have an extremely sharp serrated beak.
When handling a cormorant or a gannet ALWAYS
wear welding gloves and protective glasses.
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
1.1 NSWCOaSTalbIRDS
Terns
Crested tern 48 cm
FamilyLaridae
ternsgenerallyhavewhitebreastsandbellies,grey
upperwings,aforkedtail,characteristicv-shapedwings,
andastraightpointedbeak.theyarefoundincoastal
areas,offshoreislands,bays,estuariesandtidalinlets.
CRESTEDTERN
•Stand-upcrest,yellowbeak,andblacklegs.
•diveforfish;nestonoffshoreislandsbetweenmarchdecember;commonandsedentary,resident.
COMMONTERN
•blackbeakandblacklegs.
•Skimforfishonthewater’ssurface;breedinSiberia,
migratetoaustraliainoctoberanddepartinmarch.
lITTlETERN
•Yellowbeak,blackeye-maskthatextendstothebeak.
•diveforfish;migratory,breedinaustraliabetween
octoberandjanuary,migratetojapaninmarch.
FaIRyTERN
•Yellowbeak,whitefacewithblackeyemask.
•diveforfish;breedinaustralia(November-february).
Common tern 38 cm
Little tern 25 cm
Fairy tern 27 cm
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1.1 NSWCOaSTalbIRDS
Gulls
Silver gull 35-45 cm
FamilyLaridae
Juvenile silver gull
Kelp gull 55-60 cm
Juvenile kelp gull
4
gullsareopportunisticfeedersfoundinsmalltovery
largeflocksinavarietyofhabitatsalongtheNSWcoast.
theygenerallybreedincoloniesonoffshoreislandsand
headlandsbetweenSeptemberandjanuary.
SIlvERgUll
•familiarandubiquitous,whitebodyandtailwith
silver-greyupperwings,adultshaveredlegs,beakand
eye-ring,juvenilesblacklegs,beakandeye-ring.
•extremelyvarieddietincludingfish,invertebrates,
seedsandeggs.
•feedatwater’sedgeandonthesurface.
•common,nomadic,breedsandlivesinaustralia.
kElpgUll
•larger,whitetipsandspotsonprimaryfeathers,
adultshaveayellowbeakwitharedspotonthelower
mandibleandgreen-greytoyellowishlegs,juveniles
haveablackbeakandpalelegs.
•alsoextremelyvarieddiet,abletodivebrieflybelow
thewater’ssurfaceanddropmolluscsontohard
surfacestobreakopentheshells.
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
1.1 NSWCOaSTalbIRDS
Pelicans
Australian pelican 170-190 cm
Penguins
Little penguin 30-33 cm
FamilyPelecanidae
FamilySpheniscidae
theaustralianpelicancanbefoundat
coastalbeaches,estuaries,wetlands
andwaterways.
• adultsareblack-and-white(juveniles
brown-and-white)withalonghooked
billandfleshypouch,anddistinctive
yellowringaroundtheeye.
• feedsinshallowwateronfishand
crustaceans.
• breedsafterrainswhenwaterlevels
aresufficient,nestincoloniesonthe
groundatinlandwaterways(notably
lakeeyre).
• common,nomadic,travelslong
distancesinv-formation,anduses
thermalstosoarto
greatheights.
littlepenguinsarefoundincolonies
scatteredalongtheNSWsouthern
coast.atonlyaround1kgtheyarethe
smallestoftheseflightless,southern
hemisphereseabirdspecies.
• Slate-bluebackfeathersandflippers
withwhiteunderside,silvereyeand
blackbeak.
• largewebbedfeetandmodified
wings(flippers)usedto‘fly’through
thewater.
• feedonfishcaughtunderwater
atsea.
• Nestinburrowsincolonies,and
breedbetweenjulyandmarch.
• moultbetweenfebruaryandapril,
whentheyarenotwaterproofand
mustremainonland.
Juvenile pelican
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First Responders Resource Guide 2014
1.1 NSWCOaSTalbIRDS
Migratory species – seabirds
Gannets
FamilySulidae
Australasian gannet 80-90 cm, and juvenile (inset)
theaustralasiangannetisgenerallyfound
foragingincoastalwatersofNSWduring
winterwhenadultsandjuvenilesmigrate
alongtheeastcoastfromcoloniesin
bassStraitoracrossthetasmanSeafrom
coloniesinNewZealand.
•adultsarewhitewithblackwingtips
anddarkwebbedfeet,abuff-yellowhead
withabluishringofskinaroundtheeyes,
andablue-greybeakwithstrikingblack
bordersandsmall,extremely sharp,
backward-pointingserrations;juveniles
aregreyish-brownwithwhitefreckling.
•plungedivesintoshoalsoffishes.
•breedsoctobertoNovember.
Shearwaters
FamilyProcellariidae
Short-tailed shearwater 40-45 cm
Wedge-tailed shearwater 40-45 cm
Flesh-footed shearwater 40-45 cm
6
Shearwaters,alsoknownas‘muttonbirds’,areoften
foundoncoastalbeachesfollowingtheirlongmigration
inoctober-Novemberorpriortomigration(usually
fledglings)inmay-june.threetypesofshearwatersmay
befoundontheNSWcoast.
ShORT-TaIlEDShEaRWaTER
•Smoky-brownwithpalerthroat;beakslenderand
shorterthan3.5cm;somemayhavewhiteunderwing;
tailshortandrounded;greyfeetextendbeyondthetail.
WEDgE-TaIlEDShEaRWaTER
•Smoky-brown;beakusuallydarkgreybutcanbepale
withablacktip;wedge-shapedtailthatlookspointedin
flight;flesh-colouredfeetdonotextendbeyondthetail.
FlESh-FOOTEDShEaRWaTER
•darkerbrownwithbrownunderwing;large,fleshcolouredbeakwithdarktip;palepinklegsandfeetthat
donotextendbeyondthetail.
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
1.1 NSWCOaSTalbIRDS
Migratory species – shorebirds
Bar-tailed godwit (37-45 cm)
Eastern curlew (60-66 cm)
FamilyScolopacidae
FamilyScolopacidae
thebar-tailedgodwitmigratesfrom
breedinggroundsinnorth-easternSiberia
andspreadsacrosstheNSWcoastline
oversummer.thereturnmigration
beginsapril/mayandbirdsmayassume
breedingplumageatthistime.
theeasterncurlewalsobreedsinSiberia
andisfoundalongtheNSWcoast
asanon-breedingmigrantbetween
September-april/may.usuallyseen
aloneorinsmallnumbers.Notethelong,
curvedbeak.
Pacific golden plover (23-26 cm)
Red-necked stint (13-16 cm)
FamilyCharadriidae
FamilyScolopacidae
thepacificgoldenploverbreedsfrom
northasiatowestalaska.itisfoundin
NSWbetweenaugust-april.oftenseen
inlargeflocks,innon-breedingwhiteand
buffmottledplumage.Somemayshow
darkerbreedingplumage.
thered-neckedstintbreedsinnortheasternSiberia/alaska.Notnormallyseen
withredneckplumagewhileinaustralia.
oftenfliesintightly-packedwheeling
flocks,incompanywithotherwaders.
Notethehindtoe.
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common ent
2.1 yOURSaFETy
L
2.2 RECORDkEEpINg
A
Remembertoincludeprotectiveclothing,
gloves,hatandeyeprotectioninyourrescuekit.
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1. time,date,locationofbird,injury,andthenameandphonenumberoftheperson
reportingtheinjuredbird.
2. capturetechniqueused,difficultiesfaced.
3. tideandweatherconditionsatthetimeofcapture.
4. gender,age(adult/juvenile),conditionofbird,weightandbeaklength.
5. treatmentadministered.
6. foodintakeandmedicalrequirementsduringcare.
8. generalobservationsmaderegardingbehaviourandresponses.
9. dateofdeath,euthanasiaorreleaseandanytagnumbers.
Youwillfindthatkeepingadailydiaryspecificallyforyourgeneralobservationsis
extremelyvaluable.itisimportantnottoloseanyofthehard-wonknowledgeyou
gaininyourexperiences.Youmayuncoversomeinterestingpatternsovertime.
carefullyrecordingyouractivitiesmayprovetobeofimmensebenefittoyouand
yourrescuegroup,andalsototheconservationofspecies.compilingknowledge
aboutcommonspeciescanalsobeveryhelpfulinsavingcloselyrelatedspeciesthat
areendangeredorvulnerable.
2.3COMMONENTaNglEMENTS
aNDINjURIES(4)
Injuries
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easierremovalofthehookbutsometimes
makesitdifficulttoascertaintheactual
directionorpointofthehook.oncethehook
isremoved,thismattershouldbeexpelledand
theremaining‘sinus’flushedwithantiseptic.
Entanglements
E
anospreyentangledinfishingline.photo:Sergio
jacomy.
10
apelicanhookedbyaganghook.photo:aSR.
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
providersdonatetimeandequipment(cherry-pickers)toassistinclearingfishingline
andotherdebrisfromhighly-perchedseabirdnests.thiscooperativearrangement
preventsentanglementsandinjuriestovulnerablespeciessuchastheosprey.
2.4 paTROlS/ClUESTOENTaNglEMENTaNDINjURy
I
Onpatrol.photos:garryFenton,aSR.
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L
Thispelicanisanexampleofahighcapture
priority.photo:aSR.
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2.5CapTUREpRIORITIES
T
2.6ThERESCUEkIT
A awellstockedrescuekit.photo:aSR.
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‘
I
‘
2.7 haNDlINg(5)
B
Handling techniques for different species
Six handling guidelines
• Immobilise the dangerous parts of the bird (beak, feet) with a firm hold. The rest
of the birds body should be restrained gently. Birds do not possess a diaphragm
and rely on movement of the keel bone to facilitate breathing. This means they can
be suffocated by being held too tightly. If the bird struggles it is important to avoid
holding the bird more firmly.
• For safety reasons birds should be held at waist-height not near the
handler’s face.
• When handling birds with long legs the handler should hold the legs of the bird
at the top of the femur where the legs and the body meet.
• Protect your eyes and other body parts from birds with sharp beaks and claws.
• Birds should not be held around the neck as breathing can be restricted and
muscles damaged.
• Towels can be used to wrap around the bird’s body and wings to aid restraint.
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P
P
Shearwaters
Shearwatershaverelativelylongslenderbeakswithexternalnostrilspositionednear
thebaseofthebeak.theshort-tailedshearwateriscommonlyfoundbeach-washed.
thebeakcanbeheldclosedwiththehandpositionedwiththefirstfingerontop
andthethumbunderneath.alternatively,theheadcanbeheldfrombehindorina
shorebirdholdwiththeheadbetweenthefingersandbodyrestinginthepalmofthe
hand.thewingsshouldbeheldagainstthebird’sbodyandwrappedinatowel.
P
P
G
G
Correcthandlingofapelican.photo:aSR.
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initiallyandgrasptheheadand
baseofthebeakthroughthe
towelwithonehand,withthe
fingersunderthemandibleand
thethumbontopofthehead.
alternatively,graspthehead
frombehindthebackofthe
skullwiththethumband
forefingersrestingbehind
theeyes.itmaybenecessary
tograspthebeakinitially
togetyourhandsinthe
correctposition.
Correctphysicalrestraintofaseabird,withthehead
pointinginasafedirectionandthebeakNOTheld
closed.Diagram:Walraven(2004).
gannetshavestrongfeetandclaws
andthesemaybeheldupagainstthe
bird’sbodywiththeotherhand.thebirdshouldbeheldagainstthehandler’sbody
andunderthearmwithoutanypressureonthebody.thesebirdshavequickreflexes
andwilloftenbitethehandlerassoonasthegraspisreleased.
Cormorants
C
G
G
Correcthandlingofaseagullwithline,hookandlure
trailing.photo:aSR.
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orupagainstthebird’sbody.handlingtechniquesforotherseabirdspeciescanbe
foundinhall(2000a)(seesection4.1onpage41).
2.8 CapTUREMEThODS
C
Tips and tricks to increase capture success(4)
don’tdespairifyourcaptureattemptisunsuccessfulthefirsttime.patienceis
thekey.obtainasmuchfishscrap(frames)asyoucanfromyourlocalfishco-op
orseafoodretailerorcollectitfromanglersfilletingfishatcleaningtablestolure
yourtargetseabird.largerspeciesoffishsuchasbreamandflatheadaresuitable.
Non-targetbirdscancarryoffsmallerfishtooquickly.avoidusingflakeandother
sharkmeatasalure,yearsof
experiencesuggeststhatmany
seabirdswillavoidit.don’twaste
yourfish.thereisnothingmore
frustratingthanfinallyluring
yourtargetbirdintopositionfor
captureandthenrunningout
offish.
ifyourtargetbirdisroostingsome
distanceaway,trytoattractsilver
gullswithsmallpiecesoffishand
offal.thefeedingactivityofthe
gullswillsoonattractotherbirds.
Usingfishframestolurelocalbirds.photo:aSR.
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P
adoptanon-predatoryposture,allowthe
animaltocometoyou.Takenotesandappear
disinterested.photo:Surflandphotography.
capture.thisispredatorybehaviourthatbirdsarefinelytunedto.Wearclothing
thatisreasonablytightfitting–somethingassimpleasyouropenjacketcatching
onthewindmayspookbirdsandruinyourcaptureattempt.adoptingpredatory
behaviourlikecreeping,sneakingoractinglikeapredatorwillscarebirdsoff.move
slowlywithfluid-likemovements–anysuddenchangeinyourstaturefrom,for
example,squattingpositiontostanding,willalsocausealarm.ifthereareonlookers,
politelyexplainwhatyouaredoingandreassurethemabouttheprocess.captures
canbedramaticandunnervingforthepublic.onlookerscanalsobenoisyandtheir
movementscandisturbyourattempt.
awaterpistolorspraybottlewithblueorgreenfoodcolouringinthewaterishelpful
inmarkingtargetseabirds,especiallyifyouarealone.Sprayingthebirdwithdyed
waterwillenableyoutofinditeasilyinaflock.avoidmarkingtheheadorneckasthis
cancauseabirdtobeostracisedfromitssocialgroup.instead,aimforthechestor
wings.thedyewilllastforacoupleofdays.
‘
overthepasttwodecadesthefollowingcapturemethodshavebeensuccessfully
developedanddeployedtocapturethespeciesinthismanual.
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In almost every case where I have landed on a pelican in the water, it has
had sufficient time to turn away and raise its wings ready for flight.
lanceFerris(1956-2007)
‘
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
Beak grab
A
above:beakgrab
technique:notetheleft
handontheupperbeak
towardsthehead.Inset:
Fingersaregentlyhooked
insidethepouch.Right:
Reacharoundthebody
ofthebirdandsecurethe
wings.photos:aSR.
Toss’n’run
I
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theflockonebyone,highintotheair,severaltimes.You’llnoticethateachtimeyou
dothistheflockwillalllookupwardstothefish.attherightmoment,whenthebirds
arelookingup,distractedbythefish,you’regoingtoruninandgrabyourtargetbird.
asthepelicanslookup,setyourfeet.remembertoavoidlookingthebirdintheeye
andactlikeafisher!thisisagreattimetohaveahelperwhocanquietlytellyouifthe
birdismovingaroundintheflockwithoutyouhavingtodirectlylookatit.asyourun,
bepreparedtopullupquickly.reachforthe‘shoulders’ofthebirdandsecurethe
wingsasquicklyaspossible,ahelpercouldruninandassist.onceyouhavethebird
inhand,holdstillforafewmomentswhiletheotherbirdssettlethenmovetoaquiet,
shadylocationtomakeanassessmentofyourtargetbird.
Noose (foot snare)
T
Settingupanooseonthebeach.
photos:aSR.
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NET
b
Steele’snetdesignandoperation.above:anartist’simpressionofthenetpulledupintothevertical
position.Notethepositionofthepegs.bottomleft:Thehingedpole.Twopegseithersideoftheplate
securethishingetothesand.photos:aSR.
conduitorsimilar–availablefromanyhardwarestore;12mof80lbfishingline;anda
2mmbrassring(availablefromtackleshops,usuallyinpacketsof10).
The Steele’s net
T
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DesignandOperation
two25mmpvcpoles,each2.5mlong,areplacedontheground,about4mapart,
paralleltoeachother.eachpoleishingedontoaplate,whichispeggedtotheground.
alightweightnetofabout4cm2-meshisattachedtotherope(orsmallernetifyour
targetsaresmallerbirds).thisisattachedtothetopofthepolesandpeggedto
thegroundatthesidesandrear.thepoleswithnetattachedarethenlaidflaton
theground.a‘trigger’ropeisattachedtothetopofeachpole,leadingbacktothe
rescuer.theseropescanbe25mormoreinlength.oneoperatorcanpullbothropes
fromasinglepoint.onbeaches,thenet,poles,andropecanbecoveredwithalight
layerofdrysand,soastobeinconspicuoustoseabirds.
The leap
T
asuccessfulleapcapture.photo:Surflandphotography.
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topromotesomecompetition.thisactivitywilldrawyourtargetbirdclose.trynot
tofeeditfirst.itmaybesatisfiedwiththatamountandnotreturn.Whenapelican
takesafishitusuallyretreatstotherearofthegroupandmaynotreturnuntilithas
completelyswallowedthecatch.
keepinmindthatpelicanscanmoveveryquicklyandyourleapwillrequireathrust
ofabouthalfametrebeyondwhereyouwouldexpectthebirdtobe.Whenyoufeel
thetargetbirdisinreach,tossafish.thebriefmomentthatthebirdisfocusedon
thefishisyourchancetoleap.
trytokeepyoureyesopenatalltimes,thusensuringagoodcatchandavoidinginjury
tothebirdoryourself.reachfortheshouldersofthebirdandmakeeveryeffortto
keepyourcentreofweightawayfromitasyouenterthewater.
Whenyouhaveafirmhold,gentlyrestrainthebeakwithonehand,andcontrolthe
wings.besuretokeepthebeakabovethewaterline.hundredsofpelicanshavebeen
capturedusingthistechniquewithnoinjurybeingcaused.
insomecasesabirdmaybeparticularlyshy.ifyoumakealeapattemptandmiss,it
isunlikelythatyouwillgetanotheropportunitytocapturethatbirdoranyotherbird
thathaswitnessedtheattemptatthat
locationonthesameday.theentiregroup
mayspookandnotreturntothatsitefor
severalhours.Youmayhavesomesuccess
bymovingtoanotherlocationifthecase
isextremelyurgentbutrestassured
theywillrecogniseyou.Wearadifferent
shirtandhatinordertochangeyour
appearanceifattemptinganotherleapon
thesameday.
D-net
T
D-netdesignandoperation.photos:aSR.
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Securethenettoatreeorstationaryobjectwithatetheredline.theadvantage
ofthiscapturemethodisthatthetetheredlinecanbeofconsiderablelengthand
thusdistancestherescuerfromthetargetbird.placeappropriatefoodunderthe
nettolureinthebird.Whenthebirdentersthecaptureareatofeedthenetcanbe
manuallyloweredontothebirdbyreleasingthetetheredline.
thefollowinginstructionsareforad-netthatisapproximately2mwideand
suitableformostspeciesinNSW.thegaugeofthemeshhasproventobethe
leastsusceptibletofeatherentanglement.Youwillneedtwo4mlengthsof20mm
electricalconduit(eachlengthhasaflairatoneend,whichcanbeusedasajoiner);
oneconduitstraightjoiner,andtworight-anglecornerjoiners;about3m2ofblack
netwithmesh-size~3cm2;50mofnylonsashcord.
Construction
• cuttheconduittolength,fixthejoinersandmakethedshapeasindicated.only
glueonesideofthejoiners,sothatthed-netcanbecollapsedfortransport.
• laythedontothenet,andcutoutthenetslightlylargerthanthed.
• openthejoiners,andthreadthenettingontothed.
• usegaffertapenearthejoinerstostopthenettingslidingaroundtheconduit.
• attachthesashcordtothenetting.
Boat / Land pursuit
R
I
boatpursuitbeingusedtocaptureaninjured
bird.photo:aSR.
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L
2.9 FIRSTaIDINThEFIElDFORCOMMONINjURIES
B
Fish-hooks
R
Fishing line entanglement
R
Removinglineinthefield.photo:aSR.
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awingorlegisaffectedbylackof
circulation.anaffectedlimbwill
likelyfeelcold,appeardiscoloured
andmayhavelimitedmobility.
thesecaseswillalsorequirelongtermspecialistcare.
Pouch problems in pelicans
thegularpouchshouldfeelsoft
anddrytothetouch.thepouch
islinedwithhundredsofblood
vesselsandisverysensitive.if
thereisaholetorninthepouch
thatislargerthana50-centcoin,
itwillrequireveterinarycare.if
thewoundisrecent,theremay
havebeenconsiderablelossof
aholethissizeinthepouchwouldrequireveterinary
blood.ifthereisdarkskin,similar
treatmentandstitching.photo:aSR.
tobruising,inoraroundthe
wound-site,thebirdwillalsorequirelong-termspecialistcare.dehydrationcanbe
indicatedbyadry,flakeyand/orwrinklygularpouchandcouldbeasymptomofa
primarydiseaseorcondition,whichwouldneedtobeinvestigatedbyavet.
Paralysis
Seabirdssittinganddoingnothingalldayisnotnormalbehaviour.mostreportsof
whatturnsouttobeparalysiscitebrokenwingsorlegsastheinjurybecausethebird
isunabletomovenormally.inthesecasesaspeedyresponseiscriticaltohaltthe
fastactingneurotoxinthatmaybeparalysingthebird.manyconditionsanddiseases
maycausedebilitatingparalysisinallspeciesofseabirds.theseincludepneumonia,
botulism,aspergillosisorahostofotherbacteriathatcanbefatalinaveryshort
spaceoftime.keepthebirdwarmandseekveterinaryassistance.
Broken bones
B
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2.10 TRaNSpORT(5)
T
Temperature
A
Ventilation
E
Noise
A
Transport boxes
T
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bewrappedinablanketandcovered
iftheyaretooilltostand.large
sportsbagswithzippersorspecially
designedcarrymatscanbeusedto
restrainthebodyandwingsofthe
birdleavingtheheadandneckout
ofthebag.ifthisisthetransport
methodthebirdwillbeexposedto
visualstressduringtransportanditis
advisablethattheheadbecovered.
onepersonshouldsitwiththebird
topreventitdamagingitselfby
throwingitsheadaround.itismore
thanlikelythatbirdswillregurgitate
duringtransportsotowelsshould
beavailable(4).bewatchfulofan
upwardtiltofthehead,aloweringof
thebeak,andnecklengtheningand
shaking(4).thisindicatesanimmanent
attempttoregurgitate.
Ensuretransportcagesareappropriatetothesizeof
thebird.Notethewirewindowsandfrontdoorofthe
cagearecoveredwithshadeclothtopreventfeatheror
beakdamagetothebirdduringtransport.photo:aSR.
Transport box floor covering
ifthesurfaceisabrasiveorifthebird
isunabletogripandisslidingaround,
thefloorcoveringisinappropriate.
itisrecommendedthatrubbermattingbeusedasabasewithfoldedtowelsplaced
ontopoftherubber.itisimportanttoprovideasurfacethatissoftonthebird’sfeet
butalsoprovidessomethingforthemtogripwiththeirtoesandnails.hessiansacking
andtowelswithfrayededgesarenotsuitableasthebird’stoescangetcaughtinthe
weaveandloosematerialmaybecomecaughtaroundalegorotherpartsofthebird.
Newspaperisnotrecommendedbecauseitbecomesslipperywithfaecesandcanalso
harbourfungus.
itisessentialthatthebird’sfeatherconditionandwaterproofingareprotected
duringtransport.Seabirdsmaybesuccessfullytreatedfordehydration,infections,
exhaustion,fractures,oilingetcbutiftheirfeathersaredamagedduringtransport
theymayrequireeuthanasia.removingthedamagedfeathersandwaitingfornew
featherstogrowisnotanoptionduetotheriskofsecondarycomplications(and
paintothebird).Seabirdspecieshavemanydifferentmoultcycleswithsomesuch
asgannetsmoultingthreeorfourprimarieseachyearandsuspendingmoultwhen
breedingcommences(5).
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2.11 RElEaSINgbIRDS(6)
Physical and behavioural health of birds
• exceptinsimplecasesofdetanglement(wherethebirdistreatedin situandnot
takenintocare)birdsshouldbeseenbyapractisingveterinarianpriortoreleaseto
ensurethattheyhavenoclinicalillnessorinjuries,andhavefullyrecovered.blood
testsandparasitescreeningshouldbecarriedouttoensurethatthebirddoesnot
poseadiseaserisktothewildpopulation.
• anexperiencedwildliferehabilitatorshouldobservethebirdandthoroughlytest
forfitness,conditionandbehaviouralsuitabilityforrelease.
• birdsshouldrecognisetheirnaturalfoodsourcepriortorelease.thismaybe
difficulttoassessinsomepelagicbirdsbut,generally,seabirdsmustbefeedingon
theirnaturaldietbeforerelease.
• thebird’sweightandbodyconditionshouldbecheckedandrecordedpriorto
release.Weightmustbeinthenormalrangeforthatspecies(seebelow).
• thebirdmustbewaterproofandallfeathersbeingoodcondition.body
temperatureof38-41ºcshouldbemaintainedafterseveralhoursinthewater.
penguinsshouldnotbereleasedduringthemoult.
• ifappropriate,thebirdshouldhavehadexperiencewithothersofitsownspecies,
andbebehavingnormally.
• thebirdshouldhaveaknowledgeofpredators(whenappropriate)andobjectto
humanhandling.
• Salttolerancemustberestablishedpriortoreleaseandnasalglandsecretions
visibleforpelagicbirds.
• thebirdshouldreceivesomeformofidentificationpriortoreleasetoenablepostreleasemonitoring.
Release weights for seabirds(7)
Residentseabirds
piedcormorant:1650-2000g
littleblackcormorant:800g
littlepiedcormorant:690-800g
greatblackcormorant:2500g
crestedtern:335g
commontern:95g
littletern:55g
fairytern:55g
Silvergull:280g
kelpgull:890g
pelicans:3390-7350g
penguins:950g
Migratoryseabirds
australasiangannet:2285g
Short-tailedshearwater:500g
Wedge-tailedshearwater:385g
flesh-footedshearwater:660g
bar-tailedgodwit:190-400g
easterncurlew:700-900g
pacificgoldenplover120-175g
red-neckedstint25g
formigratoryspecies,release
weightdependsontheir
migratorypatternsoseek
expertadvicetoconfirm
releaseweights.Somemigratory
seabirdsboosttheirbodyweight
by40-70%beforemigration.
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Release site or location
U
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m
3.1 INTRODUCTION
I
31
the wildlife response.
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
The Wildlife Coordinator will oversee the operations of the Wildlife Unit which will be comprised
teams responsible for the rescue, transport, triage/first aid, cleaning/drying, rehabilitation and e
release of affected wildlife. The Wildlife Coordinator will also oversee the establishment of wildl
treatment facilities at a site or sites determined by the incident’s needs and available locations.
Oilor
or chemical
chemical spill
notification
flow chart:
Oil
spill
notification
flow chart(8)
Responsible combat agency appoints an Incident
Controller
Incident Controller notifies relevant Functional Areas
who will contact support agencies
In the case of a spill affecting wildlife, the Agriculture
and Animal Services Functional Area Coordinator may
appoint a Wildlife Coordinator from OEH to coordinate
a wildlife response
Wildlife Unit established within Operations Unit of Oil
Spill Response Incident Control System structure
(OSRICS)
Emergencyseabirdresponsenotificationflowchart.DpI.
Figure 1 (below) shows the structure of the Wildlife Unit which is part of the Operations Section
broader OSRICS structure.
Procedures



Wildlife Response - Set Up and Use of Wildlife Treatment Facilities
Wildlife Response - Pre-emptive Action
Wildlife Response - Search and Rescue
POLICY TI-O-114
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Figure 1: Wildlife Unit Structure within OSRICS
Planning Section
Planning Officer
Situations Officer
Operations Section
Operations Officer
Wildlife Unit
Wildlife Coordinator
Logistics Section
Logistics Officer
Wildlife Unit
Logistics Support
Rehabilitation Division
Rescue Division
Rehabilitation Commander
Rescue Division
Commander
Rescue Sector
Rescue Sector
Commander
Transport Sector
Commander
Transport Crews
Triage/First Aid Sector
Triage/First Aid Sector
Commander
Triage/First Aid Crews
Cleaning/Drying Sector
Cleaning/Drying Sector Commander
Cleaning/Drying Crews
atypicalWildlifeUnitstructure.Diagram:DpI.
OLICY TI-O-114
PAGE 4 OF 4
Rehabilitation Sector
Rehabilitation Sector Commander
Rehabilitation Crews
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Rescue Crews
Transport Sector
First Responders Resource Guide 2014
3.2 pREpaRINgFORaNEMERgENCyRESpONSE
The roles of supporting agencies
T
Training and resources
T
Washingoiledfeathersinawildliferesponseunitfollowingamajorspill.photo:USFishand
WildlifeService.
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Multiplefunctionalareasundertakingadrillexerciseatyambaport2009.photo:aSR.
currenttrainingandmethods,andprovidestheopportunitytonetworkwithother
communitygroups.theNSWgovernmentconductsregularregionaldrillexerciseson
atri-annualbasis.theseincludetheparticipationofsupportingagenciesinamock
oilspillthattriggerstheemplaNandarequirementforemergencyseabirdresponse.
checkwithyourgroup’smanagementcommitteetoseeifthereisaregulardrill
exerciseontheircalendarofeventsandfindouthowyoucanparticipate.intheevent
youoryourgrouparecalledontoparticipateinanemergencyresponse,on-site
trainingwillbeprovidedthatisspecifictotheparticularemergency.
oiledWildliferesponsekits,providedbyamSaandmaintainedbyeachoftheStates
undertheNationalplanarrangements,arelocatedineachstate.thekitscanquickly
bedeployedtoaspillsiteandcontainalloftherequiredequipmentfortheinitial
treatmentofupto100birds.atthetimeofwriting,theNSWkitsareheldattwo
sites;theveterinaryequipmentbeinglocatedattarongaZooandtheoperational
equipmentatSydneyportauthority(withinamobilewildlifewashingunitwhichis
housedinaconvertedshippingcontainer).
thewashingunitisfullyequippedwithwaterheaters,awatersoftener,a
pressurizationpump,ventilationplantandelectricaldistributionboard;plusalarge
workingareawithwateroutlets,ductedairextraction,lightingandfloordrainage.
thecontainercanrunuptothreecleaningstationsandhassufficientwatercapacity
torunfourmorewashstationsinanadjacentfacility.thecontainercanbedeployed
atshortnoticetoasitethathasaccesstowaterandpower.theaaSfacoordinator
(aaSfac)willrequestthedeploymentoftheamSaoiledWildliferesponsekitupon
notificationofanincidentinvolvingaffectedanimals.theveterinarycomponentofthe
kit,whichisheldandmaintainedbytarongaZoo,shouldbedeployedatthesametime.
Seesection4.3onpage42foralinktomoredetailedinformationonthekits.
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Determining your fitness to respond
T
Respondingtoaspillcanbeaphysicallyandmentallychallengingexperience.photo:USFishand
WildlifeService.
3.3 paRTICIpaTINgINaNEMERgENCyRESpONSE
Rescue and rehabilitation of oiled birds I
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factors.Notallaffectedwildlifewillnecessarilybecaptured.thedecisionto
capturewillbemadebyrescuecrewsbasedonarangeofconsiderations,withsafety
beingparamount.
Wildliferescueandrehabilitationgroupsinvolvedinanemergencyeventcanaccess
theplans,policies,procedures,forms,roledescriptionsandsafeworkmethod
statementsforpre-emptiveaction,set-upanduseofbirdtreatmentfacilities,search
andrescue,triageandfirstaidonlineattheNSWdpiwebsitelistedinsection4.3on
page42.it’sagoodideatobecomefamiliarwiththesedocumentswellbeforean
incidentoccurs.rescueandrehabilitationofoiledbirdsissubstantiallydifferentfrom
dealingwithentanglementsorinjuries.Youwillfindalistofpublishedresourcesin
section4.2onpage41.
3.4 RECOvERINgFROMaNEMERgENCyRESpONSE
Documentation E
Debriefing T
Debriefingisimportanttoassessthe
challengesandsuccessesofanemergency
seabirdresponse.photo:aSR.
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3.5 MajOROIlSpIllCaSESTUDIES(9)
WorldEncouragement Botany Bay 1979 A
Ironbaron Hebe Reef Tasmania 1995 T
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T
L
O
TheIron Baron.photo:shipspotting.com
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T
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REFERENCESaNDOThERRESOURCES
4.1 REFERENCES
1.byronbirdbuddies(2013).Wild about birdseducationkit.
2.lindseytr(1986).Seabirds of Australia.angus&robertson,Sydney.
3.Walravene(2004).The rescue and rehabilitation of oiled birds.Zoologicalparks
boardofNewSouthWales.
4.ferrisli,bonnermandkosacke(2004).Rescuing the Australian Pelican.australian
Seabirdrescueincorporated,ballina.
5.halle(2000a).transport,handlingandhusbandryofseabirds.Marine Wildlife.the
fabianfaycourseforveterinarians,proceedings335,W.p.howey(ed).postgraduate
foundation,veterinaryScience,universityofSydney,pp319-333.
6.halle(2000b).rehabilitationandreleaseofseabirds.Marine Wildlife.thefabian
faycourseforveterinarians,proceedings335,W.p.howey(ed).postgraduate
foundation,veterinaryScience,universityofSydney,pp335-367.
7.vogelnestl(2000).veterinarymanagementofseabirds.Marine Wildlife.the
fabianfaycourseforveterinarians,proceedings335,p199-235.universityofSydney.
8.NSWdpi(2012).oilandchemicalspillwildliferesponse:notificationandcommand
structure.biosecurityoperations,biosecurityNSW.
9.amSa(Nd).majorhistoricalincidents.https://www.amsa.gov.au/environment/
major-historical-incidents/
•halle(2008).rescueandintensivecareofseabirds.australianWildlife
rehabilitationconference,canberra.
4.2 pUblIShEDRESEaRChaNDOThERRESOURCES
•alonso-alvarezc,perezc,velandoa(2007).effectsofacuteexposuretoheavyfuel
oilfromthePrestigespillonaseabird.Aquatic Toxicology(amsterdam)84:1pp103110.doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2007.06.004.
•alonso-alvarezc,munillai,lopez-alonsom,velandoa(2007).Sublethaltoxicity
ofthePrestigeoilspillonyellow-leggedgulls.Environment International33:6pp773781.doi:10.1016/j.envint.2007.02.012.
•keescj,camphuysen(2011).Seabirdsandchronicoilpollution:Self-cleaning
propertiesofgulls,Laridae,asrevealedfromcolour-ringsightings.Marine Pollution
Bulletin62:3pp514-519.
•mearnsaj,reishdj,oshidapS,ginnt,rempel-hesterm(2011).effectsofpollution
onmarineorganisms.Water Environment Research83:10pp1789-1852.
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First Responders Resource Guide 2014
•vogelnestl(2000).theeffectsofoilonmarinewildlife.Marine Wildlife.thefabian
faycourseforveterinarians,proceedings335,p149-163.universityofSydney.
•vogelnestl(2000).triageandtreatmentofoiledbirds.Marine Wildlife.thefabian
faycourseforveterinarians,proceedings335,p167-196.universityofSydney.
•votierSc,birkheadtr,orod,trinderm,granthammj,clarkja,mccleeryrh,
hatchwellbj(2008).recruitmentandsurvivalofimmatureseabirdsinrelationto
oilspillsandclimatevariability.Journal of Animal Ecology 77:5pp974-983.doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01421.x.
4.3 INTERNETRESOURCES
NSWcoastalbirds
byronbirdbuddies:http://www.byronbirdbuddies.com.au
birdsinbackyards:http://www.birdsinbackyards.net
Entanglementsandinjuries
Rescue and Intensive Care of Seabirds:http://www.awrc.org.au/uploads/5/8/6/6/5866843/seabirdrescueintensivecare_-_libby_hall.pdf
Capturing Pelicans and other birds that can be lured:http://www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com/capturingpelicans&otherbirds-lanceferris.pdf
Marineoilandchemicalspill
AMSA
theNationalplan,oiledbirdresponsekits,rolesforvolunteers,andcasestudies:
https://www.amsa.gov.au/
NSW Ministry for Police and Emergency Services
emplaN,thecontingencyplanandtheSupportingplan:
http://www.mpes.nsw.gov.au
NSW DPI
policiesandproceduresforoilspillemergencies:
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/emergency/oil-spills/policies.
marineincidentresponseforWildlife(fromtheNSWworkshopseries2011):
www.seabirdrescue.org/emergency-management.
forgeneralinformationoneffectsofoilonwildlife,impactstoseabirdsincluding
feathersandskin,internalorgans,reproductionandpopulations:
www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn
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