Call it the mystery of the dirty birds.
The Times has received two reports of gulls seemingly coated in oil spotted late Monday. But according to Gloucester Harbormaster James Caulkett, no oil spills in the harbor have been reported to him or the U.S. Coast Guard.
The first report came from Richard S. Heil of Peabody, a well respected birder.
"I observed more than 40 oiled gulls in East Gloucester today (Monday)" he wrote in an e-mail. "Most were concentrated around the Rocky Neck area with about 20 in Wonson Cove alone.
"I called the Massachusetts Environmental Police to report the oiled birds, with the idea that maybe they could locate the source of the contamination, accidental or illegal," he added.
Heil said he met with the officer, whom he said "flushed all of the birds into the water, and stated 'I don't see any oil' and 'they can fly.'"
"When I showed him my photographs of the orange-yellow, bedraggled, contaminated birds, vigorously trying to preen out the oil," Heil added, "he adamantly denied they were oiled, and insisted that it was probably just 'run-off from the snow.'
"My attempts to assure him that the birds were indeed oiled failed to convince him," Heil said.
Another report, however, came from Philip Brown of Essex. who runs the birding Web site, www.nebirdsplus.org.
"I also saw an oiled gull that was roosting on the ice at Niles Pond on Eastern Point in Gloucester," he said. "I realize these birds cover a wide area during their daily travels but this many oiled birds concentrated around Gloucester Harbor should prompt some sort of response."
Brown said he forwarded his report to the Massachusetts Environmental Strike Force, a division of the attorney general's office, as well as the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA called Brown yesterday afternoon seeking more information.
A spokesman for the strike force said she could not confirm or deny whether there was an investigation.
One theory proffered was the birds may have been coated in fish oil. Herring boats are allowed to discharge the fish oil-tainted water from their holds outside the harbor, but Caulkett said the boats are and have been tied up at Jodrey State Fish Pier for days.
Rebecca Dunne, senior coordinator of oil programs for Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research Inc., a Delaware-based company that catches, cleans and rehabilitates birds caught in oil spills, and Adam Kennedy, a biologist for New England Aquarium's Rescue & Rehabilitation, both thought the birds looked "oily" when they saw pictures of the gulls, but that it didn't look like tarry engine oil.
"If it was that kind, you'd see more oil on the beach. That kind of oil just sticks," Kennedy said, adding, "the birds wouldn't be preening."
"They look contaminated, not water-proofed, not happy" Dunne said. "You've had a lot of weather up there, so it could be anything."
Oil prevents birds' feathers from insulating the animals properly. Unless captured and washed, oiled birds may succumb to cold, hunger and weakness, as well as toxicity from ingesting oil as they groom.
Yesterday morning, after talking to the state Department of Environmental Protection, Caulkett and a DEP representative visited Wonson Cove and Niles Beach.
"We didn't see any distressed birds, but the DEP is looking into it," he said.
Joe Ferson, a DEP spokesman, said his agency representative also visited Niles Beach and Eastern Point.
"There were no oily birds and no sign of an oil release," he said.
Ferson said anyone who may have more information about the origin of the oil, or who spots the oily birds, should contact the Gloucester harbormaster, the Coast Guard or the DEP.
Andrea Holbrook may be contacted at 978-283-7000 x3456 or aholbrook@gloucestertimes.com.
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