Oil spills devastate migratory bird populations through direct toxicity, hypothermia and long-term reproductive harm.
Oil spill events cause acute mass suffering in birds — the distress of hypothermia, the inability to fly or swim, and the toxicity of ingested oil combine to create a catastrophic welfare emergency. The sheer numbers affected in major spills can overwhelm rehabilitation capacity. Prevention through safe shipping practices and pipeline maintenance is far preferable to response.