A bird in the hand
Page 32
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Mith a strong family background of pigeon fancying, the Hawk is as keen as anyone on the proper treatment and welfare of our feathered friends. I
was truly delighted, therefore, to learn of the splendid initiative by Safety-Kleen, the parts washer and liquid waste recycling specialist, which came to the rescue of birds harmed by the Welsh oil spill when the tanker Sea Empress ran aground on rocks.
The birds were flown from Wales to Brentwood in Essex for a planned cleaning operation. On hearing this, Safety-Kleen's -. Brentwood branch contacted the organisers to offer the free use of parts-washing equipment. As a result, three parts-washing machines were set up with clean water replacing the usual mineral spirit degreasing solvent and a pump and tank to remove dirty water. Safety-Kleen even arranged for its towel suppliers to provide towels for drying the birds after cleaning and, as a final touch, persuaded equipment hire specialist, HSS to instill an infra-red heating system to maintain the corral temperature in the bird recovery area. Safety-Kleen staff were on hand to meet the volunteer light aircraft returning from the Welsh coast to assist in unloading and transporting the birds in cardboard containers to the cleaning station. Once at the station, birds were cleaned by teams of two, working long hours.
So far, hundreds of guillemots, razorbills, cormorants and fulmars have taken a bath, with puffins and other birds joining the queue.
Cleaning machines have also been provided at Milford Haven, close to the disaster scene and at the Sussex home of writer Carla Lane, who is helping to rehabilitate some of the birds. The machines used in the emergency have been permanently donated to the
Brentwood Oiled Bird and 11111111111M112.11 Animal Sanctuary with
plumbing supplemented to allow extra warm water cleansing. Most of the rehabilitated birds are convalescing at the RSPCA's Wildlife Hospital in Norfolk, which has stainless steel bird. washing stations donated by Safety-Kleen when the hospital opened three years ago.
All together now...aaah! 0.00000...••••••monsimmilis 0 To find out how hauliers have been involved in cleaning up the oil, see our feature on page 36.
by the Hawk