Robin's Blog for Dauphin Island

Sixteen Birds Released at Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge

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NEW ORLEANS – State and federal biologists released 13 laughing gulls, two royal terns, and one sandwich tern at Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge Wednesday, after being rescued and rehabilitated from oil impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Rockefeller State Wildlife Refuge in Grand Chenier, La., was selected by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the release site because it has not been impacted by oil and contains natural habitat for these species.

“This refuge and nearby natural areas provide these birds the best chance of survival and success,” said Robert Barham, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. “We hope to release more rehabilitated birds in state in coming weeks.”

The birds released were treated at the Bird Rehabilitation Center in Hammond, La. To date, over 550 birds have been treated and released in the wildlife rescue and recovery effort.

“The birds released today were fortunate to have a second chance at life in the wild through the cooperative effort of experienced oiled wildlife rehabilitators, " said Dr. Heidi Stout of Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research.

Rockefeller SWR, located in eastern Cameron and western Vermilion Parishes, La., is managed by LDWF’s Coastal and Non-game Resources Division. The 76,000-acre refuge area borders the Gulf of Mexico for 26.5 miles and extends inland toward the Grand Chenier ridge, six miles from the Gulf.