Birds released after clean-up
Some of the seabirds washed up on the Dorset coast covered in an oil-type substance have been released back into the wild today.
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Oiled birds released back into wild
Some of the seabirds washed up on the Dorset coast have been released back into the wild today.
They were found covered in an oil-type substance last month and have been looked after at the RSPCA centre in West Hatch in Somerset.
They were released from a clifftop on Portland.
Laura Makin-Isherwood reports:
Birds released back into wild
Some of the seabirds washed up on the Dorset coast will be released back into the wild today. They were found covered in an oli-type substance last month and have been looked after at West Hatch RSPCA wildlife centre since. They're be released from a clifftop on Portland just after 8am.
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Pollution which killed sea birds may remain a mystery
Scientists investigating mass pollution which injured and killed hundreds of sea birds along the south coast say the source of the contamination may never be known.
Around 300 birds, mostly guillemots, were treated at the RSPCA West Hatch centre near Taunton following the spill. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that it had been unable to trace the source of the spill and confirmed it has closed the investigation.
– Maritime and Coastguard AgencyAfter tests were carried out on a sample of the product, it was identified as polyisobutene, or polyisobutyliene. This is a fairly common chemical carried aboard ships and it is produced in a large number of countries.Despite further tests, we have been unable to identify specific components of the product that may have helped us find the source. Unless we receive any new information, our investigation is now closed.
Scientists identify glue-like substance
Chemists at Plymouth University have identified the sticky substance that has killed hundreds of sea birds off the Devon and Dorset coast.
Their findings suggest it's a form of Poly Isol Butene, or PIB, used as a lubricating additive in oils to improve performance.
Tamsin Eames reports:
RSPCA say margarine has been a "life-saver"
– Peter Venn, West Hatch managerWe are incredibly grateful for donations of margarine, fish for the birds and even some food for the staff which have come in from lots of local people.
This incident was completely unexpected and came out of the blue. We were not expecting such sudden vast numbers of birds to come through our doors in need of help and we were literally running out of the margarine to clean them and fish to feed them.
It is still early days and hard to say how the birds will survive in the long-term but the margarine is proving to be a real life-saver."
Public donate margarine to help seabirds
Members of the public have donated margarine and fish to help seabirds which were taken to a Somerset rescue centre after being contaminated with a mystery paraffin oil.
Staff at the RSPCA's West Hatch centre in Taunton are caring for more than 300 birds which were found covered in the sticky substance along the south coast.
The birds, mainly guillemots but some of them razorbills, were found mainly on Chesil Beach, near Portland and Weymouth.
Subsequent attempts using margarine were more successful, but as the number of the birds arriving at the centre grew, supplies of the life-saving spread dwindled until members of the public stepped in to help.
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Video: Search for birds on Chesil Beach
Beaches in Devon and Dorset where hundreds of birds were washed up are stll be scoured.
Experts are looking out for any more Guillimots and razorbills crippled by the still unidentified sticky substance. They were found from the Isle of Wight to Cornwall, but most were found at Chesil Beach in Dorset.
Full report: Fight to save birds continues
Animal welfare groups are urging the Government to do all it can to catch those responsible for the spill that's threatened the lives of hundreds of birds washed up in Devon and Dorset.
The RSPB were among those to quiz the Environment Minister in Devon today. Meanwhile the fight to save the seabirds continues in Somerset. Watch John Andrews report.
Wind-change fears for more birds
A change in wind direction could have killed thousands more birds after scores were found washed ashore along England's south coast.
Read the full storyFull report: RSPB says seabirds need formal protection in marine conservation zones
by Richard LawrenceThe RSPB says around 400 birds in total have been rescued from along the south coast but experts are still trying to detmenine exactly what caused the pollution incident.
The charity says it highlights the need for sea birds to be given formal protection in marine conservation zones. Richard lawrence reports.