jpiatt@name1.ak.net
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Koji,
I spoke With Scott Newman (wildlife veterinarian at the University of California Davis who specializes in seabirds and oil spills) about oiled bird rehabilitation issues. There seem to be three main options for you to consider:
1) Scott could provide some literature by FAX and offer some suggestions on email but this will not be sufficient to properly rehabilitate birds. There have been many new techniques to clean and care for birds;
2) Scott could come to Japan and (with an interpreter) he could work with Japanese veterninarians to show them how to clean and care for oiled birds if his travel costs could be covered;
3) There is a group called "International Bird Rescue Canter". which is located near San Francisco which travels all over the world to help rehabilitate oiled birds after large oil spills. They are prepared to show up with 5-6 personnel and do the best possible under the circumstances. Often they build temporary facilities to handle birds.
However' they are very expensive and this would be a major effort.
However' the Japanese government may decide that they have to try to rehabilitate birds because the public demands it and the government may be willing to pay a large amount of money for this assistance if Japanese veterinarians do not know what to do and haven't handled a large oil spill before,
I realize that you are not sure yet what will happen and it is very difficult to find out what government agencies or other groups are doing. But if the oil starts coming near shore' I suggest that the Japanese government prepare for the worst with thousands of live oiled birds that need rehabilitation and care' scott worked On the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska and many other smaller spills and would be very helpful. At minimum, he should come to help if somehow his costs can be covered.
Do not wait until oiled birds start coming ashore to make plans tocount oiled birds. You should be prepared ahead of time with a plan.
Keep a close watch on where the oil is moving to and where it may come near shore. These areas will need to be checked for oiled birds on beaches. Try and decide where some sample beaches are located that can be chacked daiLy to look at deposition and persistance rates. Try and find a group of biologists that can identify birds and get them prepared to help in the event that birds start coming ashore. You shouLd try to get a large amount of money from the government to cover costs of biologists counting oiled birds on shore.
If the spill does come towards shore and you decide that the Japan
