Harbor fowl caught up in diesel fuel spill

Noaki Schwartz

BALBOA PENINSULA -- At least seven birds were left coated in oil and

temporarily stranded on a sandy beach Tuesday after a docked boat

reportedly leaked about a gallon of diesel fuel near the ferry landing.

An oily slick stretched about a half-mile across the water in Newport

Harbor, leaving about five ducks and two swans -- local favorites Rupert

and Pearl -- swaying with open beaks, gasping for air.

“I’m madder than hell,” said Newport resident Gay Wassall-Kelly, who

called local authorities to check the damage. “This fuel is all over the

harbor. I can barely breath.”

Authorities received Wassall-Kelly’s midmorning call and, upon arrival,

noticed that diesel fuel was leaking from a yacht named “A Moment in

Time.”

Robert Langsan, who recently purchased the boat, declined to comment.

It was too late to contain the spill, said officials from the state

Department of Fish and Game. The fuel is expected to burn off in the

sunlight today, they said.

Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard personnel,

along with the Fish and Game officials, spent several hours in the area,

speaking to Langsan and taking water samples.

The samples will help to determine how much fuel leaked from the boat.

Langsan could be responsible for a variety of costs, including the tests.

Authorities are still trying to figure out what caused the leak. They

said it could be that the yacht’s fuel tank had simply been overfilled.

Fish and Game warden Michael McDermott said fuel spills are rare in

Newport Harbor and just one gallon can do a lot of damage.

“It’s not real common in this harbor, but it does happen,” McDermott

said. “It’s usually only a few ounces. And a little bit goes a long way.”

After sitting on the beach for several hours, the dizzy birds appeared a

little more lively and drank fresh water. A few eventually waddled back

into the water.

About a month ago, a diesel spill in the Back Bay injured another bird,

local favorite Sir Swany. The Japanese black-necked swan was recently

released after being treated for throat and lung problems it suffered

after ingesting the fuel.

Officials are waiting to see if the birds in Newport Harbor will require

similar treatment.

“They said they’re going to wait on the birds,” Wassall-Kelly said.

“We’re cleaning them with fresh water.”