On October 15th, four of the Snowy Plovers and two Sanderlings recovered from the Orange County oil spill site were cleared for release at Huntington State Beach post-wash and conditioning, signed off by OWCN Response Veterinarian Dr. Jamie Sherman. Each Snowy Plover was banded by Travis Wooten and Rachel Smith, specialists from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, as part of ongoing monitoring efforts for this federally threatened species.

They were released by Jennie Hawkins (Oiled Wildlife Care Network Field Specialist who helped recover the oiled birds on the beaches), alongside OWCN's Danene Birtell and International Bird Rescue's Isabel Luevano, two of the folks who washed the birds clean of oil and nursed them back to health.

These are only a few of the many oiled birds that were captured and cleaned in response to this oil spill. We thank the many wildlife responders and response staff who have cared for these birds and given them another chance at life.