Feathers of Hope with JD Bergeron: How International Bird Rescue Soars Above Adversity

Have you ever thought about how fragile birds can live after an oil spill? Join us for an enlightening conversation with JD Bergeron, the CEO of International Bird Rescue, where we find out the amazing story behind the organization's noble goal of saving oiled birds. Starting with the oil spill in California in 1971 and ending with the discovery that dish soap is a good way to clean feathers, JD talks about the organization's interesting past and the challenges it faces today.Oil spill reaction is hard because there are a lot of rules and regulations, and JD helps us understand how different states and countries handle these kinds of disasters. From Alaska to California and Russia to South Africa, we look at the different rules and problems that come with dealing with oil spills and how they affect wildlife. We also talk about the science behind birds that have been cleaned of oil and how bird bands can be used to keep track of how long they live.Lastly, we talk about what the pandemic means for birds and the future of bird conservation in general. With the highly pathogenic bird flu spreading across the West Coast and it being hard to treat birds with no symptoms, JD talks about how the increased attention to our feathered friends during the pandemic has changed their job. Together, we talk about how important it is to keep helping and getting involved in bird protection, and we encourage people to join us and make a difference.Don't miss this show with JD from International Bird Rescue, which is full of great ideas!-----TIME STAMPS:(00:07) - Saving Birds From Oil Spills(08:06) - Oil Spill Response and Wildlife Rehabilitation(19:16) - Protecting Birds During Pandemic Subscribe to Saving Tomorrow’s Planet Podcast Apple Spotify