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More than 250 Florida birds have been released into the wild after almost losing their lives in the BP oil spill. Governor Charlie Crist helped release three this morning at a panhandle lake, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the survival rate for de-oiled birds is really low, and cleaning the birds may be more of a publicity stunt than an environmental benefit.

Three birds from Perdido Key, caught in the BP oil nest, washed and rehabilitated, are about to be released into clean water…200 miles from their home.

But the odds are against the animals. Experts believe only 10 percent of the birds who are cleaned and released will make it through an entire year. Still, the effort to save even the smallest number is massive.

“Right now we’ve got 20 boat crews out, ready to answer the call,” Nick Wiley with the Florid Wildlife Commission said. “We’ve got right now, last I heard, ready to ramp up 16 on the beach response teams that will have ATV’s and vehicles.”

The state has a hotline for people who spot oiled birds. The goal: have a crew on the scene within an hour of getting the report.

Once rescued, it will take a team of veterinarians, nurses, and biologist, plus 300 gallons of water and dish soap to clean one bird.

Survival once they’re released depends on how badly they were oiled and the species.

“I’m highly confident that these guys are going to go out there and survive,” Dr. Heidi Stout said.

Wildlife experts say the technology to save oiled birds has improved over the past decade. But survival still depends largely on the resiliency of the species and how badly they were hit by oil.

There’s a number to call if you see a bird or any other animal covered in oil.  The Oiled Wildlife Hotline number is 866-557-1401.  The state is promising to have rescue crews on the scene within one hour of receiving a call.