How did the Deepwater Horizon spill affect birds in the Gulf of Mexico?

Birds were particularly vulnerable to the environmental impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Many birds perished after ingesting oil while attempting to clean themselves or because the oil interfered with their ability to regulate their body temperatures.12

The disaster had a devastating effect on several species:
* Mortality Estimates: Studies have projected that up to 800,000 birds may have died as a result of the spill.12
* Species Impact: The brown pelican—which had recently been delisted as an endangered species—and laughing gulls were among the most severely affected, with projections suggesting losses of 12 percent and 30 percent of their local populations, respectively.1
* Indirect Contamination: The impact extended beyond birds directly coated in oil. Research found that white pelicans that migrated to breed in states as far away as Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois produced eggs containing traceable compounds from the spill.1

Surviving birds found in the wake of the disaster were transported to rehabilitation centers, where they were cleaned and medically evaluated before being released into oil-free areas.1