At right, Dave Jessup, senior wildlife veterinarian for the Department of Fish and Game, and Shawn Johnson, veterinarian with the International Bird Rescue Research Center, take blood samples to check for stability. Birds may stay here several days. Oil is removed from the body in temperature controlled wash bins. As the oil begins to come off, the bird is moved to a new bin in a continual process. A water pick is used to get under feathers.
Water hoses hang from the ceiling to avoid a tangled clutter.
These common murres have arrived in the outdoor pools after completing their washing, rinsing, drying and further health check-ups. A constant flow of water moves through the pools to remove further oil which may come from birds' excrement. The final step will be release back into the wild.