Road Kill vs. Oil Spill - Oil in Cars More Deadly to Birds than Oil Dumped in Gulf

The pictures of the oiled pelicans are heartbreaking. A real wake up call to eliminate our addition to oil. It is tragic that it takes such a catastrophe to wake us up to the folly of overuse of oil.

As bad as the spill is on birds, with over 3100 and counting being killed, the oil that makes it way to the gas tanks of America's automobiles is much more dangerous to birds. Between 50 million and 100 million are killed on the nation's roads every year. The 4 million or so barrels of oil amounts to around 20% of the 20 million barrels required to power motor vehicles daily. With the daily bird kill being between 137,000 and 274,000, this 4 million barrels would have killed 27,000 and 55,000 if it had been used to power automobiles.

If you a bird, each and everyday there is the equivalent of between 8 and 17 Gulf Oil Disasters on the roads of America or between 3,200 and 6,400 every year. Squawk!

Of course, seabirds like pelicans will appreciate that the oil in cars is unlikely to be as deadly to them as some of their other feathered friends. Small consolation.

In no way am I saying that oil should be dumped in water to save birds on America's highways and byways. Instead, it would be much better to leave this valuable but deadly resource locked away safely in the ground saving it for future generations to make wiser use of it than driving several thousands pounds of metal and plastic to the gym to ride a stationary bike or run on a treadmill.

The birds will thank us.