The irreplaceable Birding Community E-bulletin published monthly by Wayne R. Petersen and Paul J. Baicich includes an important request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

Birders have a special opportunity to “be on the lookout” (BOLO) for oil slicks and oiled birds outside the area of direct impact. Pelagic birders and folks watching shorebirds might even take photos and make reports of oiled birds from as wide an area as possible, not just in the Gulf area, but along Atlantic Coast as well.

Even anecdotal reports will help to determine the extent of oiling geographically. It would be particularly significant if any oiled birds or remote slicks were observed in the Gulf Stream.

Oiled wildlife should be reported to a BP hot line set up for this purpose at 866-557-1401.

FYI, BOLO is another U.S. law enforcement term for an all-points bulletin or APB.

Access past E-bulletins and learn how to subscribe on the National Wildlife Refuge Association website.

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.