By Tova O’Brien
Since oil started washing ashore on Monday residents have been out in force on Tauranga’s beaches, despite constant warning from authorities to stay away.
Today, the beaches were cleared to make way for those who have registered to help.
Hundreds of dead birds have been collected from Tauranga’s beaches and Wildlife Centre volunteer Colin Miskelly says the birds “basically haven’t got a chance, even when they get a bit of [the oil] on their feathers”.
He is one of the newest volunteers at the wildlife centre and is leading the forensic team tasked with identifying the dead birds.
“My career has been about saving birds,” he says. “Some species I’ve been involved in reintroducing, hand feeding etc… it’s terribly sad to see them being slaughtered in these numbers through human error.”
So far 30 different species have been processed at the wildlife centre. But now that the beaches have been closed, less birds are likely to be reported.
The coastline has been cleared for the 1500 registered volunteers to go into action tomorrow.
“Demoralising as this is going to be guys, you’re going to clean up somewhere tomorrow and it’s going to be oiled the next day,” volunteer trainer Scott told the group.
“We’re not going down to the beaches to be models.”
The volunteers will be well kitted out; so far 60 pairs of gumboots have been ordered, 20,000 overalls and 4000 rakes and spades.
“I feel like I’m fairly protected [in the coveralls], I haven’t been feeling nausea or anything like that,” says William, a volunteer.
Those who have felt ill say they’re willing to take the bad for the greater good.
“It’s a small price to pay; feeling a bit ill for a few days, to get the job done,” says another volunteer, Hamish.
It’s a sentiment shared by those whose job it is to count and store the dead birds – in case the death toll is challenged down the road.
3 News