Bird volunteers are underutilized

A volunteer hot line is set up for reporting birds to be picked up by trained experts. The birds are then taken to a rehabilitation center run by the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) which has access of 1,000 formerly trained volunteers. (Arnoldy 2007) Untrained volunteers are not allowed to help with the birds. Volunteers were increasingly more frustrated as they were only asked for contact information.

“Here we have a golden opportunity, a three-day weekend right after the spill, and I can't do anything to help” says one attendee, Barbara Hogan, who has experience working at the local Marine Mammal Center. “They don't even have us put our skills on that form.” (Arnoldy 2007) One veterinarian was unable to find someone who would listen long enough for her to explain her qualifications and offer her expertise. (Arnoldy 2007)

Officials cite public health and the safety of the wildlife as reasons to not utilizing the volunteers. But Ben Arnoldy of the Christian Science Monitor may have captured the essence of the issue: “Partly a culture clash between a bottom-up, crowd-sourcing culture and a top-down, litigation-conscious government, it's also indicative of a national lack of planning for volunteers during crisis, say experts.” The volunteers wonder if enough can be done without their help. (Arnoldy 2007)

It is unfortunate that during an environmental crisis volunteers are not quickly trained to tackle the problem at hand. Birds are dying when they could be rescued and cleaned up faster with caring hands from community members with their hearts anchored to this coastline.

Watch this video to see the actual oil spill. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1fWn65RbC8

Bibliography

Arnoldy, Ben, “Oil-spill helpers galore, but limits on their use,” Christian Science Monitor; 13 Nov. 2007, Vol. 99 Issue 243, p1-11.