A possible victim (of the oil spill)

[Fabs Forns]

WE found this Northern Gannet juvie on the beach this morning (West Coast of Florida), floating very casually, being harassed by the skimmers. Got very close to him and no reaction. FInally, he cam ashore and had trouble walking, just laid there, oblivious to everything. WE told the lady that patrols the beach to help him and she called her superiors, was told to leave it along, there's some kind of alert because of the spill and he's just to be left there to die. Just too sad. We rarely see Gannets around here.
I find so hard to believe that after all this time nothing is being done. I bet if the oil was not flowing, they oddly have found a way to restore it :o

Model: Canon EOS 7D
Lens (mm): 300
ISO: 800
Aperture: 5.6
Shutter: 1/640

[John Ippolito]

Too sad, Fabs. The pure and fresh appearance of the water belies the lurking dangers. It is so tragic to witness and wait for the effects of this spill to slowly unfold.
Lately I find I am often preoccupied worrying about our healthy, recent arrivals here in Alaska, many of which will migrate back south through the Gulf of Mexico in a couple of months. How will they and their youngsters fare?

[Harshad Barve]

this is so sad Fabs :(
TFS

[Alfred Forns]

The chances for that bird are not very good !! Other birds were dive bombing him, I'm sure he will weaken and just drift away !!

[Bob Pelkey]

An association between the bird in this shot and the oil spill is extremely unlikely.

[arash_hazeghi]

so sad Fabs :( it's a shame they did not help.

[Fabs Forns]

An association between the bird in this shot and the oil spill is extremely unlikely.

Well, he was not taken to the shelter because of the alert because of the oil spill. So I think it is very likely.

[Stu Bowie]

Surely the authorities can set up a shelter to save any marine life. Give them a chance. A few years ago, there was a spill in CapeTown and volunteers helped clean up all the penquins that were affected. ( I do realise how massive this disaster is - let BP take the costs. )

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I read an interview with a scientist who said that the longterm survival rate of cleaned birds is about 1 percent. There may be some variables but this low number is quite discouraging.

The bird does not look oiled but we don't know what he ate or if it is an unrelated problem. I'm surprised the wildlife people in FL ignored it, it's not that they are overwhelmed with oiled birds at the moment.

[Troy Lim]

very nice shot, never saw this on west coast of FL.

[Myer Bornstein]

very nice shot, never saw this on west coast of FL.

Traveling to the Dry Tortuga's I saw many gannets and i have a c/u of one off the moat wall around Fort Jefferson

[Troy Lim]

Traveling to the Dry Tortuga's I saw many gannets and i have a c/u of one off the moat wall around Fort Jefferson

Next time when I am down there. :)