Adirondack scientist helps with Gulf cleanup

Harrietstown, New York - June 30, 2010 • Video of Story



Michael Martin sits in his office at Cedar Eden Environmental on Route 86 in Harrietstown. He just returned from a two week mission to the Gulf of Mexico. Martin is freshwater scientist who was hired to help with the disaster down south.

"It really makes your heart sink when you see this oil out there just floating free," Martin said.

He worked 12-hour days with several other people, rescuing waterfowl from the water and nesting islands around Grand Isle, La., about 50 miles west of the gusher on the ocean floor.

"Most of the birds were alive; they were moderately soaked but could still fly. But they would tire very easily," Martin explained. "Once we identified them we would chase them and scoop them in a net and bring them to a triage center where they would receive immediate care and then shipped to another facility for long-term rehabilitation."

Martin and his crew rescued hundred of birds during the two week stay. He recalls one mission in particular.

"I think the biggest adventure was when we found this white pelican, it was unable to fly. It tried its darndest to fly; it got its wing out, paddles its feet, but it could never get in the air," he said.

While the trip to the save birds may have been exhausting, Martin says the efforts are worth it.

"If they remain out there, even if they are lightly to moderately oil soaked, they will eventually die, either from cleaning their feathers or eventually their inability to fly," he said.

Martin hopes to return to the Gulf of Mexico in the near future to assist with the disaster cleanup.

Source: Matt Henson, WCAX Channel 3 News