Local Wildlife Rehabilitators Handling the Spring Crush

Power to the Plover
May 2
2 min read

By Guest Blogger Debra Barringer

Introduction

Debra Barringer has been monitoring snowy plover and least tern nests on Hollywood Beach for the past 12 years. A dedicated member of Ventura Audubon and former board member, Debra brings firsthand knowledge and deep commitment to the protection of coastal wildlife. In this guest post, she highlights the toll of springtime domoic acid outbreaks on local marine birds and the tireless efforts of our regional wildlife rehabilitators.

A Troubling Trend on Ventura Beaches

*Chemical structure of Domoic Acid, a neurotoxic marine metabolite produced by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia*

If you’ve walked any beaches in Ventura County lately, you’ve probably seen the dead water birds and mammals that washed ashore. Most of these mortalities are caused by an uptick in domoic acid, a marine biotoxin. This is a classic example of humans causing harm to nature’s food chain in the form of bioaccumulation. While some domoic acid presence in the oceans is normal, when excessive agricultural runoff, wastewater discharges, and urban runoff carry nutrients to the ocean, this toxic process is increased. These nutrients act as “fertilizer” for algae, causing them to grow rapidly and form blooms that produce the domoic acid. Small fish, shellfish and other filter-feeders eat the algae and accumulate the toxin and many coastal birds and mammals depend upon these fish for food.

*Liz Holbrook carrying a healthy bird patient for release.*

Wildlife Rescuers Responding to the Crisis

The Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network is working furiously to care for those animals that didn’t perish on the beach. Dedicated volunteers have trained to capture, provide triage care, and drive them to their Goleta facility. Ventura is fortunate to have help from Transport/Rescue Team volunteer Liz Holbrook (below) who is like a seabird whisperer in her devoted care and knowledge of how to help an injured or sick bird from area beaches.

Overwhelmed by Spring Admissions

*SBWCN staff member releases a healthy brown pelican back into its natural habitat on the beach.*

SBWCN is currently caring for 175 animals of many species. Just this March they admitted 361 animal patients from 57 species, with the influx of sick birds adding to the normal numbers of baby animals they admit during the spring. Many young animals require incubators or round-the-clock care. From just 2025 so far, they’ve helped 734 animals, many of which get quickly released back to the wild.

How You Can Help

Check out the SBWCN webpage for amazing photos of some adorable animal patients and how you can help them with this critical wildlife care:https://www.sbwcn.org/news-media