Argentina Oil spill: Saving Sea Birds

We established today as a big major penguin washing day so that we can wrap this spill up. With water
issues and other problems we have only been able to wash a total of 25 or so penguins a day and we
really wanted to do 30 to 40 a day. A few days ago we decided that we would do a long wash day and
intend to do 50 to 60 penguins. That only leaves 30 or so oiled penguins left to wash and 10 of those are
the weak ones that will go through the process once they are approved. So, today we washed a total of
50 Penguins leaving only 35 left to do and 5 of those are going to wait so only 30 to wash tomorrow.

Tomorrow we are re-evaluating all 29 King Cormorants and intend to release as many as possible the
next day. We know a few have oil under their wings and have to be rewashed.

We released another 12 Great Grebes today. They are some of the meanest birds I have ever cared for
but one of the most exquisite looking birds. We only have 10 left so I am happy. I have been very
stressed with dealing with the aggression and they have managed to kill a few of their pool mates and
scalp some others. I have a pool of 3 scalped ones that need to start to grow feathers in by next week.
Their waterproofing has been flawless from day one and that is amazing since I have NEVER cleaned
their cages. There is no way to do that because it water is so cloudy. You cannot see the bottom and
they eat the fish that falls on the bottom. This waterproofing is one of the things that has worked out for
them and it is because Rudolpho set us such a brilliant system. Many of the keep sores have resolved
and that is amazing also. Great birds and maybe the desert air, soft water and the type of fish they eat
combine to make a good pool environment. Who knows?

The penguins are doing well, eating a lot and swimming increasing amounts every day and we will start
to evaluate the first bunch of them for release starting Wed at the latest.

Some oil got stirred up from somewhere in the local harbor and today we heard there was an oiled
cormorant on the breakwater about 4 blocks from here where some sea lions hang out. We are in the
backside of a small fishing village and the ladies at the local school provide us with lunch every day so
we walk or drive there to eat. Anyway, Valeria and I were going to lunch and went to check out the
cormorant and within a half an hour I captured 3 very oiled cormorants and had a few close encounters
with the sea lions. Another cormorant swam away but one of the local guys caught it later. So, we now
have 4 new oiled cormorants. The good thing is that they are very healthy and we will probably be able
to wash them on Wednesday and get them through the system quickly. It is disturbing as there is oil all
over the rocks and beaches and they stopped clean up. All the locals are very unhappy.

We also got an oiled South American Tern in that is missing feathers on one wing and will go to
Patagonia Natural’s rehab program in Punta Tumbo until it gets it molts and gets new feathers.

There was mui dramatico incident yesterday as Valeria would call it. Some of the fisherman staged a
demonstration that they call a manifestation and blocked our road and the main road a few killometers
from here. They burnt tires and were loud but peaceful to us. They let us through after the locals told
them to not bother the volunteers and all the various bird rehab people like us so we all left at the same
time and they passed us through the road block. That was good. Once again they were saying that the
penguins are more important than them, etc. and they were making a point to the local government.
They made the front page of the local paper but were gone today.

That is really about it for now. I have been sending pictures for the web site and you can see them there.
We explained to everyone here that we have 10 days left for us to get the small birds released and get
the penguins started on their release and then leave the remaining penguins in the capable hands of the
people from Patagonia Natural and the guys from Cabo Vergines, where we worked last year. They will
take charge of seeing the remaining penguins out the door.

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