International Bird Rescue Research Center, IBRRC in 2000 at the Erika Oil Spill in France while working for EarthKind, a marine wildlife rescue organization. He was also part of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Oiled Wildlife Team in Cape Town, South Africa, which cared for 20,000 oiled African penguins following the Treasure Oil Spill in June of the same year. This team was a partnership between IFAW and IBRRC.
After working with EarthKind he become IFAW’s Emergency Relief Manager for the Oiled Wildlife Division and IFAW’s primary contact with International Bird Rescue Research Center.He has responded to and been involved in the coordination of a number of oil spills around the world including the Prestige spill in Spain and France, the Rocknes spill in
Norway, the Pemex pipeline spill in Mexico and, more recently, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Kelway is originally from Cornwall in the South-West of England and also served as a Press Officer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, one of the UK’s oldest and largest charities.
Q. When there is an oil spill what is the main concern for the birds you rescue?
A. There are many variables: time of year, location, climate, species affected and type of oil, but the most immediate concern for birds is how oil affects them externally. Seabirds rely on their feathers to keep them warm and dry while in the water. The feathers interlock, stopping cold water from getting in and trapping warm air in the soft down feathers next to the skin. Oil affects the integrity of this barrier. Water seeps through and, depending on the climate, hypothermia can set in fast.
It’s like trying to surf or dive in a torn wetsuit. The colder the water, the more immediate the problem. From there it’s a downward spiral. The birds can’t regulate their own body temperature; they lose buoyancy and the ability to feed. They become weak and dehydrated.
The lucky ones head to land. Many don’t make it that far and are lost at sea. It’s for these reasons that International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) puts so much emphasis on pro-active rescue and has developed methods and expertise to capture birds from the shoreline as well as by boat. There is only a small window of opportunity for these animals.
Q. What are the most important things you do when you are alerted of another oil spill/disaster?
A. Firstly, we have to determine if we can help. There are many elements involved in mounting an oiled wildlife response. The location, climate, local environment and politics, all have a significant impact on how we respond.
Outside of the U.S. it is sometimes as simple as whether or not we are invited to assist. We will often say that we are not ‘spill chasers’ and it doesn’t work to force our help on governments and communities who don’t want it. We need their support to make any response a success. Once we are activated the team moves quickly. Often our senior response team will be in the air within hours. Only when they are on the ground at the spill can they begin to determine our strategy and the resources and expertise that will be needed. After that, it’s all about maintaining a sense of calm amid the chaos so we can make good decisions fast.
After working with EarthKind he become IFAW’s Emergency Relief Manager for the Oiled Wildlife Division and IFAW’s primary contact with International Bird Rescue Research Center.He has responded to and been involved in the coordination of a number of oil spills around the world including the Prestige spill in Spain and France, the Rocknes spill in
Norway, the Pemex pipeline spill in Mexico and, more recently, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Kelway is originally from Cornwall in the South-West of England and also served as a Press Officer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, one of the UK’s oldest and largest charities.
Q. When there is an oil spill what is the main concern for the birds you rescue?
A. There are many variables: time of year, location, climate, species affected and type of oil, but the most immediate concern for birds is how oil affects them externally. Seabirds rely on their feathers to keep them warm and dry while in the water. The feathers interlock, stopping cold water from getting in and trapping warm air in the soft down feathers next to the skin. Oil affects the integrity of this barrier. Water seeps through and, depending on the climate, hypothermia can set in fast.
It’s like trying to surf or dive in a torn wetsuit. The colder the water, the more immediate the problem. From there it’s a downward spiral. The birds can’t regulate their own body temperature; they lose buoyancy and the ability to feed. They become weak and dehydrated.
The lucky ones head to land. Many don’t make it that far and are lost at sea. It’s for these reasons that International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) puts so much emphasis on pro-active rescue and has developed methods and expertise to capture birds from the shoreline as well as by boat. There is only a small window of opportunity for these animals.
Q. What are the most important things you do when you are alerted of another oil spill/disaster?
A. Firstly, we have to determine if we can help. There are many elements involved in mounting an oiled wildlife response. The location, climate, local environment and politics, all have a significant impact on how we respond.
Outside of the U.S. it is sometimes as simple as whether or not we are invited to assist. We will often say that we are not ‘spill chasers’ and it doesn’t work to force our help on governments and communities who don’t want it. We need their support to make any response a success. Once we are activated the team moves quickly. Often our senior response team will be in the air within hours. Only when they are on the ground at the spill can they begin to determine our strategy and the resources and expertise that will be needed. After that, it’s all about maintaining a sense of calm amid the chaos so we can make good decisions fast.
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