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100 birds covered in mysterious sticky substance wash up on south coast 100 birds covered in mysterious sticky substance wash up on south coast
(about 2 hours later)
An investigation has been launched into how 100 birds were washed up covered in a mysterious sticky substance on a 200-mile stretch of coastline.An investigation has been launched into how 100 birds were washed up covered in a mysterious sticky substance on a 200-mile stretch of coastline.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was called to the south coast on Thursday after the troubled guillemots, a member of the auk family, were discovered on Lyme Bay near Weymouth, Dorset.The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) was called to the south coast on Thursday after the troubled guillemots, a member of the auk family, were discovered on Lyme Bay near Weymouth, Dorset.
The seabirds have been taken to West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton, Somerset, but early attempts to clean them have been hampered by not knowing what the substance is, the RSPB's Grahame Madge said.The seabirds have been taken to West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton, Somerset, but early attempts to clean them have been hampered by not knowing what the substance is, the RSPB's Grahame Madge said.
The guillemots are coated in a thick, white substance, he added.The guillemots are coated in a thick, white substance, he added.
Madge said: "At the moment, the best guess is there are around 100 birds ashore and there are concerns the birds are affected in as widespread a region as from Cornwall to Sussex, so we could be dealing with quite a large incident as all these birds could be proved to come from the same pollution incident," he added. Madge said: "At the moment, the best guess is there are around 100 birds ashore and there are concerns the birds are affected in as widespread a region as from Cornwall to Sussex, so we could be dealing with quite a large incident, as all these birds could be proved to come from the same pollution incident," he added. "We are urging the government to identify the source of the pollution and the pollutant."
"We are urging the government to identify the source of the pollution and the pollutant."
The rescue operation is being run by the RSPCA. On Friday morning a spokesman said it was pleased with the public's willingness to help the stricken birds, but warned of the dangers involved.The rescue operation is being run by the RSPCA. On Friday morning a spokesman said it was pleased with the public's willingness to help the stricken birds, but warned of the dangers involved.
The spokesman said: "We would urge people to be cautious going down to the coastline affected.The spokesman said: "We would urge people to be cautious going down to the coastline affected.
"The instinctive reaction is to go down and look, or to help out. But we don't know what this substance is, so our message is for people – especially those taking dogs down to the coastline – to please be careful.""The instinctive reaction is to go down and look, or to help out. But we don't know what this substance is, so our message is for people – especially those taking dogs down to the coastline – to please be careful."
Environment Agency staff have taken samples of the affected water in an attempt to discover what the substance is.Environment Agency staff have taken samples of the affected water in an attempt to discover what the substance is.