Swan recovering from spill injuries

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Sir Swany, the snow-white swan that has become the Upper

Newport Bay’s unofficial mascot, is in critical condition after getting

drenched in diesel fuel from a boat that ran aground after last week’s

boat show.

Kiki Allan, a marina resident who looks after the birds in the bay, was

in tears as she desperately tried to find out why the Japanese

black-necked swan lay passively on the shore.

Allan said the swan had not shown up for his daily visits for nearly a

week and finally resurfaced Friday morning.

She immediately called animal control.

“It was so sad,” Allan said, adding that the swan looked weak and smelled

of fuel. “All he tried to do was clean himself. He was pulling his

feathers out. The problem is that he’s ingesting it as he’s cleaning

himself.”

Gary Gorman, manager of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center of Orange

County that is looking after the bird, agreed.

“[The fuel] burns the esophagus and the other problem is that the oil

tends to globule the feathers. It allows air to get to the skin and

hypothermia sets in. The third problem is the chemical burn on the skin.”

A 75-foot motor yacht, while leaving the Newport In-Water Boat Show, ran

aground Monday afternoon and came to rest on the shore of the Dunes.

Concerned Dunes manager Tim Quinn said he called the Orange County

Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol, the Coast Guard and the state Department of Fish

and Game to all take a look at the spill. By the time the three agencies

arrived, the spill had been stopped at a few gallons. Since it was

dissipating, each said there was nothing to be done.

Some environmentalists are upset that the bird is suffering and wonder if

the spill might harm other animals.

“I think it’s irresponsible of them not to try to clean it up,” said Bob

Caustin of the environmental group, Save the Bay. “How many other

critters died because of the [diesel] spill?”

While the environmental debate rages on, the swan will remain at the

wildlife care center to undergo blood tests, a bath with dishwashing

detergent and a meal of charcoal liquid to absorb the fuel. That will be

followed by days of a liquid diet until the bird’s condition stabilizes.