Four juvenile grebes with red eyes and yellow bills in a blue mesh crate
(Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue)

When Oil Appears Without A Spill

Responding to Impacted Wildlife

  • by Eunah Preston
On February 27, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) was activated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW-OSPR) following reports of oiled birds in Central California. While multiple grebes were confirmed to be oiled, investigators did not identify a known anthropogenic (human-caused) spill associated with the reports. Regardless of the unknown origins of the oil, OWCN responders mobilized quickly to locate and collect affected birds to ensure they received specialized care.

Field Teams Locate and Safely Capture Impacted Wildlife

Trained OWCN responders quickly deployed to the field, conducting shoreline surveys and collecting affected animals. Responders from the OWCN team at UC Davis, CDFW-OSPR, International Bird Rescue (IBR), and Aquarium of the Pacific (AOP) worked side by side to locate and safely capture impacted birds as efficiently as possible, an effort that relies on coordination, experience, and rapid response.

Two men in life vests in an inflatable dinghy, one at the helm, sailboats in a marina
OWCN UC Davis staff members Danny Vickers and J.J. Cruz surveying Ventura Harbor for oiled birds (Credit: OWCN/UC Davis)

Birds Receive Specialized Care and Rehabilitation

Once captured, oiled birds were transported to care facilities where they received specialized treatment. Rehabilitation efforts were carried out at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care & Education Center (LAOBCEC) in San Pedro, where trained teams provided the intensive care required to stabilize, clean, and rehabilitate each animal.

Two masked workers in PPE handle a coiled snake on a metal tray, photograph
Trained OWCN Responders Liz Montenegro and Cynthia Dunbar from International Bird Rescue washing an oiled Western Grebe collected from Ventura Harbor (Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue)

Coordinated Network Effort Supports Wildlife Recovery

Field operations concluded on March 5, marking a transition from active search and recovery to ongoing care. Wildlife Branch activities are now focused on rehabilitation and, ultimately, the successful release of the remaining birds in care. These efforts are being led by IBR staff at LAOBCEC in accordance with established OWCN protocols.

Grebe with black cap, white neck and yellow bill on choppy blue-gray water
Washed and healthy Western Grebe released back into a clean environment (Credit: Ariana Gastelum/International Bird Rescue)

Operations will continue until all of the rehabilitated birds have been released and there are no more affected wildlife in care. 

This response reflects the strength of a coordinated network where trained responders, partner organizations, and dedicated care facilities work together to ensure wildlife impacted by oil spills receive timely, expert care when it matters most.