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Dead Seagulls in Half Moon Bay

by Kight (kightsolomente [at] yahoo.com)
An unusually high number of dead seagulls alarmed two Venice Beach walkers who claim they have been frequenting the beach for years
deadatrunoff.jpg
Half Moon Bay, September 25, 2004

An unusually high number of dead seagulls alarmed two Venice Beach walkers who claim they have been frequenting the beach for years. "I've never seen dead birds like this," one said after approaching me to learn if I knew anything about the dead birds. Several seagulls were found dead or dying near the Venice Beach runoff. Possibly unrelated to the deaths were other birds which were found injured, including a severely broken wing on one bird and another with disabled feet.

The San Mateo Environmental Health and San Mateo Health Services Agency issue an Advisory when water contamination levels exceed state health standards. A common cause for alarm is a hazardous level of bacteria, such as e. coli, which is caused by human and animal waste and can be found in the runoffs that drain city waters onto the beach. According to Earth 911 (http://www.earth911.org/), "these wastes typically enter coastal waters from sewage spills, sewage treatment plants and sanitary sewers, and runoff from urban, suburban, and rural areas."

A recent rainfall may have "swept" the streets of pesticides, oil, cigarette butts, and other contaminants which collect during late summer's drought season. Contamination may also be caused from "malfunctioning septic systems, boats, improperly disposed waste and dirty diapers, and oil spills" (Earth 911).

Other possible causes for bird and wildlife death may include the West Nile Virus which has been discovered in birds of San Mateo County where Half Moon Bay is located. And the widely unreported Texaco (ChevronTexaco) oil spill, which occurred in Pillar Point Harbor of Half Moon Bay on May 25, 2004. The 1000 gallon fuel line leak was small in comparison to major oil spills, such as the 1993 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which dumped 11 million gallons into Alaska's Prince William Sound and is considered the most environmentally damaging spill to date.

Although the May 2004 Texaco leak is small in comparison to what are called "major oil spills" (approximately 40,000 gallons or more), it is of environmental significance because of the severity oil has on the marine wildlife it comes in contact with such as barnacles, sea birds, and the fragile southern sea otter population.

For more information on the effect of oil spills on marine wildilfe, see Oiled Wildlife Care Network (http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/owcn/). For information on how you can help prevent water pollution, see Earth 911 (http://www.earth911.org/).

Copyleft
§Warning
by Kight (kightsolomente [at] yahoo.com)
warning.jpg
A sign from San Mateo County Environmental Health warns of contaminated waters at Venice Beach.
§Seagulls at Venice Beach
by Kight (kightsolomente [at] yahoo.com)
flying.jpg
§Birds at the Runoff
by Kight (kightsolomente [at] yahoo.com)
runoff.jpg
Birds unkowingly bathe and drink at the Venice Beach runoff, along-side the already dead.
§Life and Death
by Kight (kightsolomente [at] yahoo.com)
lifeanddeath.jpg
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Sat, Oct 2, 2004 9:26PM
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