Update: 347 birds released back into wild

Nearly a month after oil spilled into San Francisco Bay, oiled wildlife experts continue to rehabilitate and release oiled birds. To date, 347 washed birds have been set free. Video of bird release

There have been nearly 2,400 confirmed deaths since the Cosco Busan container ship struck the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on November 7 and spilled 58,000 gallons of bunker crude oil. At least 1,750 arrived dead following the spill. Another 650 died or were euthanized during care at the OWCN/IBRRC Cordelia bird center.

Avian experts and biologist fear that 5 to 10 times the amount of bird deaths may actually end up taking place. That death figure estimates are based on birds that may have landed in the oil and then flown out of the area to die. San Francisco Chronicle story

My thanks to IBRRC volunteer Jean Shirley for the bird release photo and video.

Released birds now total 231

More than 231 cleaned birds have been released back in the wild. Birds are being set free at Heart's Desire Beach in Tomales Bay. This at the Point Reyes National Seashore area about 40 miles north of San Francisco.

As of November 26, 1,060 oiled birds arrived live to the bird center in Cordelia. A total of 782 have been washed of oil.

At least 1,693 dead birds have been collected in the field.