Avian magnetism
IRON powder and magnets may be as effective as water and detergent in cleaning birds caught in oil spills, say Australian researchers.
Six years of research by a team at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, preceded the study published recently in Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Oil-soaked birds are usually cleaned with detergent and warm water. The new method coats birds with iron powder; the powder sticks to oil, and the entire gooey mass can be removed with powerful magnets.
Tests on dead ducks and penguins showed the technique was 98% efficient. The team hopes to develop a field kit capable of de-oiling birds at accident sites.
An environmental group has its doubts about the method.
Paul Kelway of the International Fund for Animal Welfare said: “We don’t believe it could be used effectively. It’s not just about washing. It’s about stabilizing the bird, getting it back up to a healthy body weight.”
About 500,000 birds per year are felled by oil.
-- Charles Duhigg
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
