Del. Cleaning each bird takes about an hour, she said. Frick and her coworkers, early in the Alaska disaster, worked up the logistics for a bird rehabilitation program. The hurdles standing in the way of the job were intimidating. She figured rescuers need at least 10 cleaning stations manned by three or four trained people, with about 1,500 gallons of hot water each hour at each station. Working with two crews on nine hour shifts and going 18 hours a day, the stations could clean only 180 to 230 birds per day.
Oil mats the feathers of birds, and that leads to death in a number of ways.
Matted underfeathers or down cease to insulate and birds die of hypothermia. Oil coated feathers make it impossible for the birds to fly to safe areas. Birds exhaust themselves trying to stay afloat after oil destroys the water repellency of their feathers. Marine mammals are better off in some ways. Although biologists worry about the plight of the sea otters, they are optimistic that seals, sea lions and whales can avoid the oil.