As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday 4 March 2013

Birds to be released in Dorset four weeks after oil rescue



Rescued birds are to fly at sea for the first time since being found on the coast covered in an oil additive.

More than 300 guillemots and razorbills found covered in glue-like polyisobutene (PIB) four weeks ago have been cared for by the RSPCA.

Most of them were discovered on Dorset beaches where they were found covered in the waxy substance.

The RSPCA said it hoped up to 29 birds could be released from a cliff top in the Portland area on Thursday.

Washing-up liquid
They are to be the first birds released from the West Hatch Animal Rescue Centre in Taunton, Somerset.

Peter Venn, centre manager, said: "Just over 300 birds were brought in. Just over 100 had to be put to sleep. The substance wasn't a crude oil but it was still an oil."

Other affected birds were found in Cornwall, Folkestone and on the Isle of Wight.

The RSPCA said there have been reports of birds found covered in the same sticky substance in Ostend, Belgium.


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