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How to Lessen Oil Pollution to Help Birds

According to "National Geographic," around 500,000 water birds are killed every year by oil spills. It is these water birds that are the most affected by oil pollution because it ruins their home in the water. The oil coats the feathers of birds, causing them to stick together, and when they attempt to clean their feathers, they ingest the oil, which can cause illness or even death. The oil also breaks down the natural oil in the feathers and fur that makes them waterproof. Without this insulation, birds lose body heat very quickly.

Instructions

- 1
  Stop pouring oil down the drain. Not all oil pollution in the water is caused by tankers. In fact, over 70 percent of oil pollution in the sea comes from routine shipping and oil that has been poured down the drain instead of being correctly disposing of. Learn the proper way to dispose of oil. Contact you city or county official and ask them about the correct way to do it.
- 2
  Educate friends and family about the impact of oil pollution on birds. To fix a problem, people must first be aware of it, so motivate friends to band together and make a group to try to educate others. An example of this type of group can be seen in Britain in the 1990s. Surfers who were catching illnesses from water polluted by sewage banded together to form a group called Surfers Against Sewerage, and they forced governments and water companies to clean up their acts.
- 3
  Donate to a charity that is trying to lessen oil pollution. Every dollar helps, and these charities could do a lot with the right funding.
- 4
  Maintain your vehicle. All the chemicals that leak from your car, such as motor oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze, almost always get washed into the nearest body of water. Have your car serviced regularly and quickly act on and fix any leaks you find.

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