Glomma Oil Spill in Norway March 2006 Summary

The harbour was covered in a blanket of thick ice, so the oil was not discovered until the ice broke up.  Unfortunately the damage was already done as the oil had been carried to an ocean inlet near a bird sanctuary.
 
200 oiled ducks and 80 oiled swans were initially reported with hundreds more at risk.  Early animal rescue efforts were largely unsuccessful but as larger numbers of birds began coming into care, the local wildlife group managing the rehabilitation centre, The Norwegian Oiled Wildlife Research & Rescue Team, contacted IFAW for support.

An on-site animal rehabilitation centre was set up and was managed by two members of the Norwegian Oiled Wildlife Research and Rescue team, Karen Tvedt and Naomi Paulsen.  Both Karen and Naomi worked with IFAW's ER team during the Rocknes oil spill in 2004.  Subsequent to that, both travelled to California to train with IFAW’s partner the International Bird Research and Rescue Center (IBRRC) at their oiled wildlife facility.  

Responding to a call for assistance on March 16th, IFAW team members Marie Travers and Valeria Ruoppolo travelled to Norway to assist with the bird rehabilitation operation.  Birds rescued included Mute swans, Whooper swans, Herring gulls, Mallards and a Goosander.

Following the January 2004 Rocknes oil spill in Bergen, Norway, a lot of progress has been made in changing the mindset of government officials with respect to the rehabilitation of birds.  So although a large scale response was not anticipated, support was crucial to reinforce the progress that has been made.

IFAW team members assisted with the more difficult aspects of animal care and rehabilitation.  Curt Clumpner joined the team on the ground to assist with washing the swans and setting up the facilities, especially the pools needed to waterproof the swans.

Bird washing began on 23 March with Mallards, with swans being scheduled for washing the next day.  Tents were set up outside to house reconditioning pools for the swans, and small pools were set up indoors for the ducks.

By 31 March, all of the birds in care had been washed and were out in the reconditioning pools.  Five Mallards were already released with more ready to go.

The team demobilized and returned home on 31 March.  On 6 April, the last of the birds in care were released.

The total number of oiled birds admitted during the spill was 51:Mute swans: 26 admitted - 25 released, 1 euthanized
Whooper swans: 3 admitted - 3 released
Herring gulls: 1 admitted - 1 released
Mallard ducks: 20 admitted - 14 released, 2 died, 4 euthanized
Goosanders: 1 admitted - 1 released

The final release rate was 86.2% (44 out of 51 birds).  This high release rate was largely due to the fact that the birds received appropriate care and treatment as soon as they were admitted. 

In contrast, during a recent response to an oil spill in Estonia there was no local capacity.  By the time the IFAW team arrived on site many of the birds in care had been inappropriately treated and the mortality rate was very high.  This highlights just how important it is for IFAW to train local people to the highest possible standards during a spill and to leave the best capacity that they can to respond to future animal rescue incidents.