FOLLOWUP: Another oiled bird rescued at White Center pond

As promised, we went back this morning to the White Center stormwater-retention pond where the state and its contractors are cleaning up what’s believed to be a cooking-oil “spill” (yes, as has been pointed out, it could also have been intentional dumping) and rescuing oiled birds. The Canada goose caught while we were there late Saturday was the first bird captured for cleanup, a state Ecology Department spokesperson told us today, right before they caught a second one:

(Aside from a honk of protest, the goose didn’t resist.) Oiled feathers impair a variety of vital functions for birds, as explained here, including waterproofing and temperature regulation; we learned at the spill scene yesterday that rescued birds would be warmed on site and then transported to PAWS for rehabilitation. We expect to find out more tomorrow about where the investigation of the spill stands and how the birds are doing.

7 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: Another oiled bird rescued at White Center pond"

  • flimflam November 8, 2015 (2:05 pm)

    wsb, please keep the updates coming and please pursue an answer regarding how this happened.

  • westseattledood November 8, 2015 (2:28 pm)

    Is there a number for tipsters to call to provide information to the authorities on who dumped the oil?

    If this is a legitimate investigation, I would imagine there should be someplace (an email? A phone number?) for neighboring businesses, employees, customers, eyewitnesses, family to do their civic duty and report suspicious persons’ activities around their or at home or business?

    I bet most people are unaware that this collection pond is home to an enormous population of native frogs. Their outstanding and LOUD mating choruses’ can be heard for miles around in late winter.

    It is a testament to the species evolutionary resilience, if not a bit of a miracle?, that the frogs survive in that unnatural gunk that is their breeding ground. I have thought White Center should have a frog festival. I also think White Center could do with a Mardi Gras festival.

    But, the good news is it has gotten better in terms of visible pond littering over the past few years. I remember seeing cars in there.

    No backwards, bad players should be tolerated.

    So, I look forward to learning about where witnesses or tipsters can report the abuses they see or suspect.

    Also, fyi to WSB, looks like that IBR link is a 404?

  • Ray November 8, 2015 (2:46 pm)

    Not sure what flimflam is looking for re; how this happened.

    It is an open retention pond with walk paths around all four sides. People come by ALL THE TIME and throw their garbage, their lunch bags, etc. in the pond.

    At any point anyone can walk by and dump/throw vegetable oil, motor oil, anything else here.

    Nothing to “get” as far as that goes.

    Several “homeless” people regularly “car camp” out in their cars along the 13th Ave side of the pond, and use Steve Cox park restrooms as personal facilities. They frequently litter in the area, and could have easily dumped this in the ponds. Additionally, lots of small mom-pop restaurants in the area; any of them could have done this.

    While these are all possible, the most likely explanation is that this was just the work of a selfish private citizen who had too much cooking oil (or whatever) to set out with their trash and they just wanted to get rid of it ASAP. They drove down early in the morning and dump it before people left for work.

    You cannot prevent these kidns of activities.

  • JanS November 8, 2015 (3:38 pm)

    although you wish the finger of G-d would come out of the sky while doing it, and a deep voice would say “You pi$$ed me off!”.

    Thoughtless, selfish, ignorant…only a few of the words to describe this person…

  • Nick November 8, 2015 (8:16 pm)

    Actually there are also potentially drains that are connected to the storm water system either by accident or not. That also could be the source is an illicit connection to storm system.

  • Nick November 8, 2015 (8:24 pm)

    The link below is where you can report spills or other problems related to drainage issues if your in white center. I think Seattle has similar info on there site as well.

    http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/water-and-land/stormwater/problem-investigation-line.aspx

  • westseattledood November 8, 2015 (10:53 pm)

    Dept of Ecology is state level. I assume those investigators would be available for tips on dumping
    But this can be a federal complaint too, I think that link for drainage is good too, but we are talking about harming wildlife and that is a different law.

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