Individuals and organizations with the skill set to provide emergency care to birds that are exposed to oil spills are few and far between in Canada. To address the shortcoming, Le Nichoir Wild Bird Conservation Centre, one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centres in Canada, has developed OARS, an oil-spill avian response system. Le Nichoir treats as many as 3,000 wild birds annually and has been treating and rehabilitating oiled birds from accidental spills across Quebec since its inception, 28 years ago.
The Government of Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund is providing up to $117,700 to help OARS get off the ground. Le Nichoir is responsible for the remaining $113,000 of the project cost. Already, $77,000 has been raised by Le Nichoir from individual donors and foundations.
Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil – Soulanges, Peter Schiefke, is a strong supporter of the OARS project. “OARS will build and solidify Quebec’s oil spill preparedness, while greatly improving outcomes for birds that are rehabilitated,” Mr. Schiefke said. “In time, OARS could also become an important platform for oil-spill training across Canada,” he added.
“We all have a role to play in protecting the natural environment. By supporting Le Nichoir through the Environmental Damages Fund, we are increasing our collective capacity to respond to environmental emergencies and improve the outcomes for impacted birds,” said The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
OARS will be delivered in conjunction with California-based International Bird Rescue (IBR) to create a network of 40 professionals across Quebec trained in safely treating oiled birds. IBR is a world leader – a non-profit organization that worked on the notorious BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and has responded to over 250 oil spills and other wildlife emergencies on six continents.
Susan Wylie, Director of Operations at Le Nichoir explains the OARS concept this way: “The project includes three training sessions and the construction of a model aquatic aviary in Hudson that will serve as a long-term site for aquatic bird rehabilitation. Next spring, our biologists will deliver a virtual, bilingual opening session, focused on native aquatic birds in Quebec. The remaining two sessions will follow later in the year at Le Nichoir’s Hudson site.” Above all, Ms. Wylie stressed, “The course content of the second and third sessions will be hands-on and focused on skill development so we can hit the road running.”
To learn more:
Visit our website: https://lenichoir.org/oars/
About Le Nichoir:
Le Nichoir is a non-profit Wild Bird Conservation Centre located in Hudson, Quebec. Its mission is to conserve wild birds as part of our natural heritage for future generations. www.lenichoir.org
About the Environmental Damages Fund:
Created in 1995, the Environmental Damages Fund is a Government of Canada program administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Fund directs monies received from fines, penalties, court orders, and voluntary payments to projects that will repair environmental damage or benefit the environment. The Fund aims to invest in areas where the environmental damage occurred.
Further information:
OARS and Le Nichoir
Susan Wylie, B.Sc., CWR, Director of Operations
susan@lenichoir.org
ECCC funding
Peter Schiefke, M.P. Vaudreuil – Soulanges
514-886-0999
Peter.schiefke@parl.gc.ca
Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
media@ec.gc.ca