An update from Texas' Bolivar Peninsula

From an Associated Press article, "Beaches once thick with birds quiet thanks to Ike":

GILCHRIST, Texas (AP) — One of North America's renowned bird migration and bird watching areas is strangely silent.

Blame Hurricane Ike. ...

Just like humans, the birds need three basics that Ike took away: cover, food and water.

"There's no fresh water," said Texas Parks & Wildlife biologist Cliff Shackleford, who said a good rain would ease the peninsula's woes. "That surge killed everything and dumped salt water into everything, probably for miles.

"It doesn't mean they all died, but we don't really know. The birds ... need to drink, they need to bathe and salt water just doesn't do it."

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