THE PORT BOLIVAR, TEXAS OIL SPILL—A CASE HISTORY OF OILED BIRD SURVIVAL1

Abstract

ABSTRACT On March 9, 1982 oil from an unknown offshore source began to wash ashore near Port Bolivar, Texas. Beach cleanup was coordinated between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local authorities. Oiled sand was removed from the beach and stockpiled for local use in road construction. Oiled lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) appeared on the beach almost as soon as the oil did. The Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated volunteer efforts at capturing and cleaning the scaup. A total of 37 birds were captured, with 19 brids being taken in one night outing. Oiled bird cleaning began on March 10 and was completed on March 12. Procedures followed those described by Williams.3 Five scaup were washed three times, 31 washed twice, and one washed once. Thirty-five scaup were released on March 15 and two on April 27. No birds died during cleaning and the survival rate of the released birds is estimated to be 89 to 97 percent. Three factors were responsible for this successful oiled bird cleanup: advance preparation in the stockpiling of supplies and the training of volunteers; the availability of an adequate cleanup station; and the cooperation of volunteers and government agencies.