Oiled Penguins
November 2019 - January 2020
This is the story of three very lucky penguins who will, because one person noticed and cared, hopefully be able to breed again.
Oil spills are extremely dangerous for all wildlife. We usually only hear about large oil spills, but even small localised ones are devastating to animals that rely on the sea. For seabirds such as penguins even a little oil can ruin their waterproofing meaning that they are unable to swim, dive and hunt. Consequences can be far reaching as it is not just the birds directly affected that suffer. If it is breeding season, they will not be able to feed their chicks, and returning to their burrows will contaminate them, their mates and chicks. And, as they try to clean themselves, often with the help of their mate, they will ingest the toxic oil. This all usually leads to a slow death, unseen because we are not aware of it.
Thankfully, these three penguins were rescued from that miserable fate and were released to swim again another day.
Oil spills are extremely dangerous for all wildlife. We usually only hear about large oil spills, but even small localised ones are devastating to animals that rely on the sea. For seabirds such as penguins even a little oil can ruin their waterproofing meaning that they are unable to swim, dive and hunt. Consequences can be far reaching as it is not just the birds directly affected that suffer. If it is breeding season, they will not be able to feed their chicks, and returning to their burrows will contaminate them, their mates and chicks. And, as they try to clean themselves, often with the help of their mate, they will ingest the toxic oil. This all usually leads to a slow death, unseen because we are not aware of it.
Thankfully, these three penguins were rescued from that miserable fate and were released to swim again another day.
In November 2019, on the same evening but a few hours apart, two adult Little Penguins were found covered in oil at Stanley by a member of the public. Sally also happens to work with penguins at Phillip Island, so she knew exactly what she was seeing and what needed to be done. When she found the first, she called us and, by the time a rescuer arrived she had found the second bird.
Then, exactly three weeks later, Sally found another older penguin in the same predicament, at the same place. For all three birds the oil was thoroughly embedded through their feathers. In the first two, they had been oiled for long enough for it to thoroughly dry. But for the third bird the oil was still damp and tacky, indicating that a second spill had occurred in the same area. Both spills possibly resulted from bilges being cleaned out close into shore.
Then, exactly three weeks later, Sally found another older penguin in the same predicament, at the same place. For all three birds the oil was thoroughly embedded through their feathers. In the first two, they had been oiled for long enough for it to thoroughly dry. But for the third bird the oil was still damp and tacky, indicating that a second spill had occurred in the same area. Both spills possibly resulted from bilges being cleaned out close into shore.
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Oil spills are extremely dangerous for all marine life. For penguins (and other seabirds), the oil can damage their feathers, disrupt the insulation of the down, and render them no longer waterproof - disastrous for a bird that lives in water! The oil is also toxic when ingested, which occurs when preening as they try to clean themselves. If they survive ingesting the oil, they are likely to die of starvation as it effects their ability to dive and they are then unable to hunt.
When in extreme distress, penguins (as do other animals wild and domestic) seem to have an awareness that they are not going to survive. All three of these penguins were in that state - emaciated, dehydrated and with stomachs shutting down due to the toxic oil and no food for a lengthy period. The first step after assessment was rehydrating, both to replace fluids and flush out as much oil from the gut as possible. And, from this moment they all exhibited behaviour very unlike wild penguins. They seemed to recognise a second chance, and were grateful. Unusual for wild birds, they were very gentle when handled, but would dance excitedly on seeing their carer and try to jump out of the box to her, very gently nibbling her fingers. And, when feeding they reverted to chick behaviour - excitedly clamouring to be fed and even, at times, producing a sound very like a purr. Thankfully, as their health and condition improved they rediscovered their wild side.
The three penguins wore knitted pure woollen vests/jumpers until they could be cleaned of the oil. The jumpers make it hard for them to preen themselves and so limit any further intake of the toxic oil, and also help to maintain a suitable body temperature. Contaminated birds can be prone to either overheating or over-chilling, depending on the circumstances.
With severely compromised birds such as these three, we cannot wash them immediately as it is extremely stressful for them and we need first to make sure that they are strong enough to withstand the ordeal.
When in extreme distress, penguins (as do other animals wild and domestic) seem to have an awareness that they are not going to survive. All three of these penguins were in that state - emaciated, dehydrated and with stomachs shutting down due to the toxic oil and no food for a lengthy period. The first step after assessment was rehydrating, both to replace fluids and flush out as much oil from the gut as possible. And, from this moment they all exhibited behaviour very unlike wild penguins. They seemed to recognise a second chance, and were grateful. Unusual for wild birds, they were very gentle when handled, but would dance excitedly on seeing their carer and try to jump out of the box to her, very gently nibbling her fingers. And, when feeding they reverted to chick behaviour - excitedly clamouring to be fed and even, at times, producing a sound very like a purr. Thankfully, as their health and condition improved they rediscovered their wild side.
The three penguins wore knitted pure woollen vests/jumpers until they could be cleaned of the oil. The jumpers make it hard for them to preen themselves and so limit any further intake of the toxic oil, and also help to maintain a suitable body temperature. Contaminated birds can be prone to either overheating or over-chilling, depending on the circumstances.
With severely compromised birds such as these three, we cannot wash them immediately as it is extremely stressful for them and we need first to make sure that they are strong enough to withstand the ordeal.
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Washing oiled birds is a complex process and takes a team of people - maintaining the washing and rinsing water at the correct temperature, working gently and quickly, avoiding further damage to the feathers, changing the water as soon as it becomes dirty, ensuring that absolutely no oil is transferred back to the bird during the process, and keeping a watchful eye on how the bird is coping. They can go into shock quite easily, and death can follow quickly.
After initially stabilising them all three penguins were still very weak and as the oil was so embedded and old, this washing process had to be repeated with rest days between. With the first two who came in, as the oil was so old and dry, both went through the washing process three times in the first week, and for the smaller, dirtier and weaker penguin, a fourth wash was necessary. The third penguin was the most emaciated and needed to be stabilised for several days before a first wash was attempted, which had to be cut short and she was rested for four more days before trying again. As the oil in her feathers had not dried as much, this second wash was thankfully all that she needed.
After initially stabilising them all three penguins were still very weak and as the oil was so embedded and old, this washing process had to be repeated with rest days between. With the first two who came in, as the oil was so old and dry, both went through the washing process three times in the first week, and for the smaller, dirtier and weaker penguin, a fourth wash was necessary. The third penguin was the most emaciated and needed to be stabilised for several days before a first wash was attempted, which had to be cut short and she was rested for four more days before trying again. As the oil in her feathers had not dried as much, this second wash was thankfully all that she needed.
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Washing strips any remaining waterproofing from their feathers, so all the birds had to go through a re-waterproofing process consisting of brief periods of getting wet to encourage them to preen. Whilst preening they take preen oil from a gland at the base of their tail and spread it through their outer feathers. At the same time preening helps to "zip up" each feather leaving them sleek and smooth, and more able to take on the preen oil and properly cover their thick insulating down.
Once waterproof and a reasonable weight, they were able to move outside to the main enclosure. Here they got to socialise with other penguins in care, and once again became wild birds no longer friendly with their carer, although they still enjoyed their fish. It was a young adult male penguin also in care who indicated that all 3 of these penguins were female. A bit of a ladies' man, he made up to all the females and would share his time amongst them with mutual preening.
Having arrived 3 weeks earlier, the first two penguins were well established outside by the time the third (ex-) oiled bird went out to the enclosure. When they were all together, it was apparent that they had all previously known each other and there was a close bond between the two largest. When the third penguin first went into the enclosure she was very nervous and stressed. The larger of the other two immediately went up and stood next to her and every time her companion started looking particularly "twitchy", she would ever so gently begin to preen around the third penguin's face until she settled down again. Within an hour she had settled quite well and, though all three adult females spent time together, the two who obviously knew each other well stuck very close for the rest of their stay.
Once waterproof and a reasonable weight, they were able to move outside to the main enclosure. Here they got to socialise with other penguins in care, and once again became wild birds no longer friendly with their carer, although they still enjoyed their fish. It was a young adult male penguin also in care who indicated that all 3 of these penguins were female. A bit of a ladies' man, he made up to all the females and would share his time amongst them with mutual preening.
Having arrived 3 weeks earlier, the first two penguins were well established outside by the time the third (ex-) oiled bird went out to the enclosure. When they were all together, it was apparent that they had all previously known each other and there was a close bond between the two largest. When the third penguin first went into the enclosure she was very nervous and stressed. The larger of the other two immediately went up and stood next to her and every time her companion started looking particularly "twitchy", she would ever so gently begin to preen around the third penguin's face until she settled down again. Within an hour she had settled quite well and, though all three adult females spent time together, the two who obviously knew each other well stuck very close for the rest of their stay.
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Because they were initially so emaciated and had all ingested quite a large quantity of oil, it took a long time before they reached a healthy weight for release. But finally, towards the end of the first week of January 2020, all three birds were returned home.
Many thanks to Sally for her knowledge and sharp eyes that meant these birds were saved. And, to the team of volunteers who helped with washing these three penguins (and all the preparation and clean-up) - penguin rehabilitation is a team effort, and couldn't be accomplished without you. Thank you!
Many thanks to Sally for her knowledge and sharp eyes that meant these birds were saved. And, to the team of volunteers who helped with washing these three penguins (and all the preparation and clean-up) - penguin rehabilitation is a team effort, and couldn't be accomplished without you. Thank you!
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