Audubon Oil Spill Response Team Update: Volunteers give Least Terns a chance
An adult Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) flies over a nesting colony on Grand Isle, Louisiana. David J. Ringer/Audubon
Raucous shrieks erupted from tiny white slivers hurling themselves through the sunlight. With the grace of butterflies and the speed of dragonflies, tiny Least Terns went about their business while, a few hundred yards away, big-name music acts went about theirs on temporary stages erected on Grand Isle's beach.
The small Louisiana beach community is reeling from devastating effects of the oil disaster; the concert, "Island Aid," was put on to benefit the town.
But the terns are reeling too -- unintended victims of oil cleanup operations and protection efforts. Least Tern colonies on Grand Isle have lost eggs and chicks this year because of all the disturbance.
The colonies are fenced now, and though the breeding season is wrapping up, some birds still have young, flightless chicks. Many people feared that extra traffic brought in by the concert would further harm the Least Terns.
So Audubon posted volunteer beach stewards at the two colony sites closest to the stage, bringing human reinforcement to the fencing and signs that marked the colonies.
Audubon volunteer beach stewards pass fencing that protects a Least Tern colony. David J. Ringer/Audubon
One such steward was Jacob Watson, Jr., a lifelong resident of New Orleans who retired in 1986 from his job as research associate at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Jacob Watson, Jr., volunteers with Audubon in Louisiana as a wildlife transport facilitator and beach steward. David J. Ringer/Audubon
"My history with birds goes back to when I was a child. I was always a naturalist," he told me.
"My reason for being here is just to give help in any way that I possibly can," he said. "It's a good feeling to know that you're helping a cause for the animals that suffered so great with this manmade catastrophe."
High above and out to sea, Magnificent Frigatebirds soared on bowed wings or engaged in prolonged, twisting pursuits of ineffable beauty. A Ruddy Turnstone zipped between Laughing Gulls, who've already started losing their dark summer hoods, and fuzzy Least Tern chicks tottered across the sand. Jacob exclaimed over them all.
It was a beautiful afternoon, and it gave me hope. Hope because even in the midst of chaos and devastation, life is going on. Terns are growing up. Laughing Gulls are growing older. Frigatebirds soar.
We are in the midst of a disaster whose effects are very grave. This should never have happened, and we must fight to keep it from happening again.
But life is tenacious here where the river meets the sea. Life is strong. Life has a tremendous capacity to heal.
We may never be able to restore what we have lost, what we will lose as oil continues washing ashore.
But we can work to let life renew itself. Renew. Recover. Heal.
That's what Jacob -- and all the other volunteers who came out on Saturday -- are working for, even before the disaster ends. Renewal. Giving life a fighting chance.
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I think the most poignant
I think the most poignant statement was "We are in the midst of a disaster whose effects are very grave. This should never have happened, and we must fight to keep it from happening again." How do we do that? What is being done to insure this sort of thing doesn't happen again?
Capitalism Exposed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOP2V_np2c0
Dear Bill Nelson,
The deregulation of our government is a complete Breach
of Homeland Security; I would like to File Federal Charges against BP- and take
this case to the Supreme Court. With the current rate of inflation
the suggested 20 billion dollars is a pittance in relation to what should be
paid to the tax paying voters of Florida.
This should be rationalized and the dollar amount should be 7 Trillion
Dollars ($7000000000000). I demand that BP pays 7 Trillion Dollars
for the damage that has been to the Gulf of Mexico,
and the environment that surrounds the Gulf including all plant and
animals that are being damaged or destroyed. I feel that you can be
of service to your country and people by taking a stand. Demand that PB pay for
the damages done by bypassing and breaching Homeland Security by paying for
lower standards and then being indecisive on how to stop the leak.
There needs to be an audit on every person involved in the department that
allowed this to happen. You are the person to file this for the people it is
directly affecting. NOW is the time to Strike before BP makes a mockery of the
American People & Government. I would emphasize on the fact that Homeland
Security is not only military protection, but it also includes Corrupt
behaviors of corporations that primary goal is to make money for the British
Government. Am I wrong thinking that BP is an British Company? -of course they
provide jobs but they have done irreversible Damage to all the fishing
industries in the Gulf &have forced the workers to find clean waters to
continue their business. Desperate people may try to clean & process the
fish that have been killed by the oil. Then the general public would ingest the
fish & have medical problems. This in turn would cause the medical field to
become overwhelmed with people suffering exposure form toxic chemicals
associated with oil. Tourism is dropping at an alarming rate & there will
be many small businesses struggling & desperate trying to survive.
Taxes will have to be increased to cover the loss of jobs. Theft, crime &
drug use will increase due to the fact that people will be in need of support
& none will be available. Citizens that once were able to provide for their
families will loose their jobs due to the drop in tourism. Bill Nelson-How
may I help you start this process? Please respond at
your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Daniel William Newell
12638 Parkwood Street
Hudson Florida 34669
30 year cleanup
This cleanup is going to take a lot longer than anyone can imagine. We are sill cleaning and recovering from the Alaskan Exon spill, and that spill is smaller than a 1/100 of this gulf spill. BP should not make any profit for the next 30 years minimum. Everything should go the people out of work, and the cleanup.
Carol Roth
Neprinol Syntol