Thirteen herring gulls were discovered covered in a sticky, fish-oil-scented substance in Peel, with several more partially oiled birds spotted but unable to be retrieved, according to a local charity. The organization warned that the oil coating would likely be fatal for the birds, hindering their ability to regulate body temperature. When oiled birds enter water, they can become waterlogged, leading to hypothermia. The substance can also cause birds to sink and drown, and the loss of adult birds could result in their chicks starving.
This is not the first instance of oiled birds in the area; the charity reported similar incidents occurring since 2022. In a previous case, a peregrine falcon was collected from the same vicinity. The charity stated that the recurring nature of these events is a cause for shame, especially when no action is taken.
The birds collected were taken for cleaning. The charity has urged members of the public who find birds coated in oil to contact the organization.