10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

Today’s post is written by Monte Merrick, wildlife rehabilitator and co-director of the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center/bird ally x in Arcata, CA. The species name is long enough to be the middle line of a formal English haiku. We went from one disastrous spill to another, searching for oiled birds, but mostly documenting the dead.

Los Angeles 243

Los Angeles Killing Wildlife Rehabilitation San Francisco 243

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

This represents 6% of the estimated mid-continental spring population of 322,700 birds for the same two decades. Kills in Canada, Alaska and Mexico are not included in the count. What about all the other birds that die from inexperience, disease, natural predation and accidents?

2011 245

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 245

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2017

The Nature Center worker brought down pliers and Eric gave the bird to Lisa to hold as he examined the situation. One of them had to be injured, possibly killed. It didn’t take long to come up with an answer, especially as the bird was not very happy and the mussel didn’t articulate an opinion.

California 171

California New York New York City New York Times 171