Almost 420 birds found with oil, alive and dead, since spill off Miss., Ala., Fla. Panhandle

Group finds 420 birds oiled by spill in 3 states

MOBILE, Ala. — The director of a wildlife rescue operation says more than 400 birds harmed by Gulf oil have been found on the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

Ken Rice, the wildlife branch director for the operation in the three states, said Wednesday that more than 190 with oil had been found dead over the past two months. Almost 220 oiled birds were found alive for possible cleaning.

Rice says the most affected bird was the Northern Gannet, which spends much of its life over open seas. Other affected birds include Brown Pelicans, terns, loons and shore birds.

Rice said a “substantial number” of birds harmed or killed by the oil spill are not found, but he had no specific estimate.