Oiled birds

[asterroc]

Less than 1% of oiled birds survive. Somebody want to explain to me why? What actually kills them? Is it predators? Ingestion of oil (and if so, is the oil toxic or does it disrupt normal digestion)? Temperature regulation? Insufficient buoyancy? What?

Edit: The correct answer is, (E) All of the above.

Comments

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

I saw this on birdlovers recently...I think it's the ingestion of oil, plus probably the stress of being caught.

Having said that, I'm touched that your mood piccie looks like Jill and Moxie :-)