Why is it so difficult to remove oil from bird feathers?
Oil affects birds by coating their plumage in sticky, greasy slime. Once oil covers the feathers, they will mat and misalign the tiny barbs that keep the feathers properly positioned. Oil is difficult to remove because it requires a vast amount of time and numerous steps to eliminate it from the bird’s feathers. Many oiled birds die because people with the best intentions, who are worried about removing the oil from feathers, wash them immediately, resulting in extreme stress.
1. Once stable, oiled birds are washed with a low concentration of Dawn dishwashing liquid in clean water. Dawn is the most effective detergent and has the ability to remove most oils, is effective at low concentrations, non-irritating to the skin and eyes and rinses quickly from feathers.
2. After washing, the bird is taken to a separate rinsing area where a special nozzle removes all traces of detergent from the bird’s feathers. This aids the natural waterproofing process of their feathers.
3. The bird is then placed in a protective …show more content…
Beyond a depth of just a few meters, the plastron can collapse, letting water penetrate into the feather structures. Properly aligned feathers will not allow water or air to penetrate, and ensure that the bird is buoyant and insulated from the cold. Oiled birds lose their natural buoyancy from air pockets created by proper feather alignment, and they can sink and drown in polluted waters. This may be because they still have detergent on their feathers. A small misalignment from detergent can also cause birds to lose critical body heat, therefore exposing them to temperatures and weather conditions that can be fatal. Every day birds spend considerable time preening because if their feathers are not perfectly aligned, the result could be
Oil affects birds by coating their plumage in sticky, greasy slime. Once oil covers the feathers, they will mat and misalign the tiny barbs that keep the feathers properly positioned. Oil is difficult to remove because it requires a vast amount of time and numerous steps to eliminate it from the bird’s feathers. Many oiled birds die because people with the best intentions, who are worried about removing the oil from feathers, wash them immediately, resulting in extreme stress.
1. Once stable, oiled birds are washed with a low concentration of Dawn dishwashing liquid in clean water. Dawn is the most effective detergent and has the ability to remove most oils, is effective at low concentrations, non-irritating to the skin and eyes and rinses quickly from feathers.
2. After washing, the bird is taken to a separate rinsing area where a special nozzle removes all traces of detergent from the bird’s feathers. This aids the natural waterproofing process of their feathers.
3. The bird is then placed in a protective …show more content…
Beyond a depth of just a few meters, the plastron can collapse, letting water penetrate into the feather structures. Properly aligned feathers will not allow water or air to penetrate, and ensure that the bird is buoyant and insulated from the cold. Oiled birds lose their natural buoyancy from air pockets created by proper feather alignment, and they can sink and drown in polluted waters. This may be because they still have detergent on their feathers. A small misalignment from detergent can also cause birds to lose critical body heat, therefore exposing them to temperatures and weather conditions that can be fatal. Every day birds spend considerable time preening because if their feathers are not perfectly aligned, the result could be