Workers deploy hard boom around an island containing a pelican nesting colony. Many of the pelicans are already oiled, including the one shown on the far right. Photo by Kim Hubbard/Audubon Magazine
Gretna, LA
7:14am
This story just keeps getting worse and worse. Yesterday we saw at least 25 oiled Pelicans in the Barataria Bay, along with oiled White Ibises and Laughing Gulls. Hard boom was being deployed, but it seemed too late, and futile.
The absorbent boom did not prevent the oil from reaching shore. Photo by Kim Hubbard/Audubon Magazine
An oiled pelican in Barataria Bay. Photo by Kim Hubbard/Audubon Magazine
Shrimp boats are now being used to skim oil from the surface of the water. Photo by Kim Hubbard/Audubon Magazine
An oiled pelican attempts to preen itself. Photo by Kim Hubbard/Audubon Magazine
A small boat on a calm day created waves that easily washed over the absorbent boom. Photo by Kim Hubbard/Audubon Magazine