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Changing winds put more seabirds at risk of mystery oil Changing winds put more seabirds at risk of mystery oil
(35 minutes later)
A change in wind direction could have led to the deaths of more birds, after scores were found covered in an oily substance along England's south coast.A change in wind direction could have led to the deaths of more birds, after scores were found covered in an oily substance along England's south coast.
Experts said many birds could have been blown out to sea by northerly winds on Saturday. Winds from the south and west on Sunday could bring more dead birds ashore.Experts said many birds could have been blown out to sea by northerly winds on Saturday. Winds from the south and west on Sunday could bring more dead birds ashore.
Emma Rance, marine conservation officer for the Dorset Wildlife Trust, said on Saturday: "The north-west offshore wind is now blowing many seabirds out to sea which will limit the rescuers' ability to recover the affected victims. This will also increase the overall number of fatalities."Emma Rance, marine conservation officer for the Dorset Wildlife Trust, said on Saturday: "The north-west offshore wind is now blowing many seabirds out to sea which will limit the rescuers' ability to recover the affected victims. This will also increase the overall number of fatalities."
More than 250 birds, mostly guillemots and about 17 razorbills, are being treated at the RSPCA West Hatch centre near Taunton, Somerset. Most were rescued from Chesil beach in Dorset; others have come from the Isle of Wight and Cornwall.More than 250 birds, mostly guillemots and about 17 razorbills, are being treated at the RSPCA West Hatch centre near Taunton, Somerset. Most were rescued from Chesil beach in Dorset; others have come from the Isle of Wight and Cornwall.
West Hatch staff first tried to clean the birds with soapy water, but had more success using Stork margarine.West Hatch staff first tried to clean the birds with soapy water, but had more success using Stork margarine.
Peter Venn, manager of the centre, said: "It is still early days and hard to say how the birds will survive in the long-term. We don't know what this substance is or what it might be doing to the birds, but we can say the margarine does seem to remove it and we are doing all we possibly can to give them the best chance we can of survival." Peter Venn, manager of the centre, said: "It is still early days and hard to say how the birds will survive in the long term. We don't know what this substance is or what it might be doing to the birds, but we can say the margarine does seem to remove it and we are doing all we possibly can to give them the best chance we can of survival."
Environment Agency scientists identified the mystery substance as a refined mineral oil, but not an animal or vegetable-based oil, and ruled out palm oil.Environment Agency scientists identified the mystery substance as a refined mineral oil, but not an animal or vegetable-based oil, and ruled out palm oil.
Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB, said investigations were continuing to try to establish what it was and where it came from.Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB, said investigations were continuing to try to establish what it was and where it came from.
"It's a refined mineral oil, which is a colourless and odourless substance, and it's related to petroleum jelly," he said. "We don't know where it came from and we need to do a lot more testing on this substance to try and track it back to its source."It's a refined mineral oil, which is a colourless and odourless substance, and it's related to petroleum jelly," he said. "We don't know where it came from and we need to do a lot more testing on this substance to try and track it back to its source.
"There are people speculating it could be from a ship. That's possible but we just don't know yet. We need to look at what happened and if appropriate take legal action and also, frankly, shame the people.""There are people speculating it could be from a ship. That's possible but we just don't know yet. We need to look at what happened and if appropriate take legal action and also, frankly, shame the people."
He added: "I saw some of these birds yesterday and they were in a right state. It was really, really heartbreaking."He added: "I saw some of these birds yesterday and they were in a right state. It was really, really heartbreaking."