Approximately 800,000 gallons of Type C Bunker oil were liberated after two oil tankers collided near the Golden Gate Bridge on January 18, 1971. Tidal action dispersed most of the oil along the coastline from Double Point in the north to Pigeon Point in the south. Approximately 7,000 birds were oil affected of which 4,600 were picked up and treated. Survival was low. Western Grebes accounted for 53% of the treated birds. Scoters made up 24% and the remaining 23% was made up of 24 other bird species. Oil affected the birds in several ways. Shock, loss of flight, water repellency and insulation were obvious problems and required individual treatment. Approximately 40,000 individual volunteers worked on bird rescue and maintenance. Several cleaning compounds were used. Basic H was used at the San Francisco Zoo while many other cleaning stations used mineral oil. Polycomplex A-ll was not used. After cleaning, maintenance provided several problems. Information on long term maintenance for repair or replacement of damaged feathers and food and water requirements was lacking. Several methods of feeding were attempted. Standard Oil Company computed the cost for bird care at $225,559.00. The cost for each bird liberated back into the wild was $1,000.00. A total of 218 birds were banded and liberated. As of December 1, 1971, fourteen bands have been returned. The estimated survival figure from the 4,686 treated birds was less than five percent.
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