Pourquoi les oiseaux périssent-ils lors des marées noires ?

The seabirds are the first victims of the oil spills. When oil sticks to a bird’s feathers, it causes them to mat and separate, impairing waterproofing and exposing the animal’s sensitive skin to extremes in temperature. This can result in hypothermia, meaning the bird becomes cold, or hyperthermia, which results in overheating. Instinctively, the bird tries to get the oil off its feathers by preening, which results in the animal ingesting the oil and causing severe damage to its internal organs. In this emergency situation, the focus on preening overrides all other natural behaviors; including evading predators and feeding, making the bird vulnerable to secondary health problems such as severe weight loss, anemia and dehydration. Many oil-soaked birds lose their buoyancy and beach themselves in their attempt to escape the cold water. The fortunate ones are taken in by concerned citizens or capture crews.
Caroline Lepage, a specialized journalist in sciences, describes us the effects of oil on birds.