Seabirds covered in mystery goo

The RSPCA are worried about the return of a mystery sticky substance that's harming seabirds.

12 guillemots have been found washed up on beaches on the south coast of England covered in goo.

Earlier this year hundreds of birds had to be rescued after being found covered in the mystery stuff.

The charity says they're still not sure where the substance is coming from.

From CBBC News

Staff at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre wash a stricken guillemot in February 2013. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

More than 30 birds have been rescued after being washed up on beaches across the south coast of England covered in a sticky substance, the RSPCA said on Thursday.

A further 27 guillemots were collected from beaches stretching from Mevagissey in Cornwall to Plymouth and Whitsand Bay. It adds to the 12 guillemots rescued on Wednesday affected by what appears to be the same sticky substance that harmed their colonies out at sea two months ago.

An RSPCA spokesman said: "Most of the birds gathered will be transported to the RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre in Taunton. On arrival, the birds' condition will be assessed by staff and, if fit enough, they will be stabilised before any attempt is made to wash the sticky, oily chemical from their feathers.

"Five birds transferred to West Hatch last night were in an extremely poor condition and were put to sleep to end their suffering. There is still no indication whether this is a new pollution incident or not."

In February, scores of sea birds were injured and hundreds more killed by the pollutant, which affected a 200-mile stretch of coastline. About 300 birds, mostly guillemots, were treated at the West Hatch centre.

Experts at Plymouth University found the mystery substance was almost certain to be polyisobutene, an oil additive known as PIB which has a chemical mixture ranging from oils to solids. But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was unable to trace the source of the spill and confirmed it has closed the investigation.

Staff at West Hatch first tried to clean the birds with normal soapy water, which was not successful in removing the sticky substance, but eventually had more success with margarine.

From Uk news in real time (The Guardian)
 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/11/mystery-sticky-substance-blight-seabirds