In This Section (1997-2007):

The Monterey Mystery Spill (Santa Cruz)
Point Reyes I and II Spill (Point Reyes)
Command Spill (San Mateo County)
Luckenbach (Point Reyes to Monterey)
Cement Ship (Santa Cruz/Aptos)
Cosco Busan (San Francisco Bay Area)
Moss Landing Mystery Spill (Santa Cruz/Aptos)

• The Monterey Mystery Spill (Santa Cruz)

October 1997 - November 1997
505 live birds recovered

A sudden stranding of common and arctic loons, Western and Clarks grebes, common murres, surf scoters, and a few brown pelicans over a weekend in mid-October 1997 resulted from contamination with a combination of fish and vegetable oils. No responsible party was identified. Although still under construction, the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center was forced into emergency action and dozens of local citizens, students, university staff and passers by, as well as the OWCN and IBRRC, responded. Most birds had just finished their migration from the Arctic and were in very poor body condition many birds were also infected with Salmonella--a double whammy--possibly from the rotten fish thought to have been the source of the oil.

• Point Reyes I and II (Point Reyes)

November 1997 - March 1998
938 live birds recovered

These two spills occurred in the Winter of 1997-98 subsequent to major winter storms and they involved almost exclusively common murres. Survival and release rates were satisfactory. The oil was a very thick aged fuel oil of unknown origin. Birds were picked up from Pt. Lobos to Bodega Bay and most were cared for at the MWVCRC. This oil was originally thought to be coming from tanker lanes off San Francisco but it was eventually traced to the SS Jacob Luckenbach (see below).

• Command (San Mateo County)

September 1998 - November 1998
76 live birds recovered

A Panmanian flagged tanker with a cracked hull left San Francisco in September 1998 and leaked as it traveled toward Guatemala, where it was boarded. The oil was easily traced and the responsible parties were held to account. Common murres were again the primary species affected and survival and release rates were generally good.
Related: OSPR's Command Spill page

• Luckenbach (Point Reyes to Monterey)

Novemeber 2001 - January 2003
1,095 live birds recovered

A series of oil spills primarily involving common murres in the winters of 2001 through 2003 were eventually traced to a victory ship that sunk during the Korean War. The species specific seasonal bird survey information and satellite photos collected by OSPR and sunken vessel charts help identify the source. (links here to other sites). Since this vessel has been drained of remaining fuel oil winter oil events involving common murres in Monterey Bay have declined dramatically.
Related: OSPR's Luckenbach Spill Final Update (PDF)

• Cement Ship (Santa Cruz/Aptos)

September 2004 - September 2006
70 live birds recovered

An old concrete hulled tanker that had been beached, first as an amusement resort in the 1920’s and then used as a fishing pier, off of Aptos, CA turned out the be the source of oil that killed or injured several hundred birds, mostly cormorant, and several seals over many years. Fuel tanks were drained and the hulk made safer at a cost of nearly $1 million.
Related: OSPR's Cement Ship (SS Palo Alto) Fact Sheet (PDF)

• Cosco Busan (San Francisco Bay Area)
  November 2007 - present
  545 live, 369 dead recovered as of November 11th, 2007

• Moss Landing Mystery Spill (Santa Cruz/Aptos)
  November 2007 - present
  50 live birds recovered as of November 10th, 2007

Further Reading:
Newman et al.: A historical account of oiled wildlife care. Marine Ornithology 31: 59-64 (2003) (PDF format)