by the California oil spill
.
As oil-covered animals come ashore, the broader effect of the California oil spill on wildlife is unknown, experts say.

A brown pelican was the first casualty of the oil spill, wildlife officials said. The bird was euthanized Sunday after it was injured in the spill off the Orange County coast, Michael Ziccardi, director of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN), said at a press conference this morning.

.Officials captured four live birds as of Monday afternoon, Ziccardi said. A coot, ruddy duck and pelican were captured Sunday and a sanderling came in on Monday. Other oiled birds have been spotted in flight, but they've been difficult to catch, he said.Birds are the priority, since they're most likely to come ashore after an oil spill, Ziccardi said..

"Birds have a high body temperature; they use their feathers almost like a dry suit to keep themselves warm in the marine environment," Ziccardi said. "If they get soiled, their first response is to get warm as quickly as possible. That's why they usually come ashore quickly, so that they can try to stay warm."

The organizations rely on offshore cleanup operators who may spot dolphins or other marine life in distress, he said.

So sad what these birds have gone through....