So far state Department of Ecology is reporting no oiled birds. They have also made clear that they have hired crews to take care of the situation and don't want any volunteer assistance.

Regardless of their reports, it seems highly likely that there are quite a few oiled birds given the extent of the spread of the spill and the increasing number of scoters, grebes and loons that are returning to winter along the south end of Vashon. Is that ten or twenty? Who knows so far. Fortunately, quite a few probably isn't really a lot yet but the real story is going to be the long term affects. There will be many more birds that may not be oiled or die but take serious hits to their health over the coming weeks from various exposures. A number of people have seen birds out in the oil from the ferry but it's hard to tell how "oiled" they are.

Ed Swan
Vashon Island