The Latest Sanibel Oil Spill Update—The Savior of Birds

Looking for a Sanibel oil spill update? Here’s one you might not expect—a good news report. Yes, even some good news can come from the oily muck of BP’s earth-marring stupidity. The city of Sanibel, Florida is reaching out to the Gulf Coast and providing sanctuary for some of its former inhabitants. The BP oil spill resulted in the destruction of many beautiful avid species. However, Sanibel—the oil free island that hasn’t yet been affected by the oil—is welcoming the addition of over 11 gannets and 21 pelicans.

These birds are being released into the Sanibel area in hopes that they can recover physically (and maybe emotionally? Hey, who says birds cannot experience stress?) and make a new start in the Sanibel area. These birds were rescued from major oil spill areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

These birds were treated to a human-guided flight aboard an aircraft. They join some 1,085 birds that have been rescued from the oil spill site and transferred elsewhere. It’s reassuring to know not only that Sanibel oil spill damage is non-existence, but also that the city is doing its part to help North America to recover from the crisis.

Wildlife officials have put leg bands on the released birds, hoping to track them and see whether they will try to return to the spill area. Birds by habit do return to their homeland, though these birds are understandably shaken from the oil scare. One thing is for sure the Sanibel area is perfectly safe and ecologically compatible with the birds.

Why not show your support of Sanibel and Captiva? Oil spills are nothing new, and the local community is doing its best to fend off the affects from the massively-hit Golf Coast region. Thus far, merchants, hotels and restaurants are still in business and are unaffected by the damage. They are ready to see you this summer, and so is Sanibel’s bird population!