More than 120 oiled seabirds — most of them Western Grebes — have been rescued from beaches in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties since November 3, and the numbers continue to climb.
As of this Monday, 121 birds have been transferred to International Bird Rescue’s Los Angeles Wildlife Center for emergency care. That being said, “not all birds that are found survive long enough to reach care,” according to Ariana Gastelum, the organization’s marketing and communications specialist.
The birds are being stabilized in Goleta by Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network before being shuttled south to San Pedro. From there, the work begins — warm water, Dawn dish soap, and pet grooming dryers. The process is delicate and labor-intensive, often requiring mild sedation to keep the birds calm…