A hazmat-like suit, gloves, a mask and a giant net — it’s not a typical outfit for the beach, but it is for Liz Holbrook. 

Holbrook, a volunteer with the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, has rescued about 40 of the more than 100 seabirds found coated in oil off the Santa Barbara coast. 

It started on Nov. 1 when she found a Western grebe, a long-necked diving bird covered in oil at the Ventura Harbor.

“I thought, OK, that is weird,” Holbrook said.

The following day, she received another call about a potentially distressed bird and went out to find another Western grebe covered in oil in Ventura. 

She quickly brought together a group of about eight Ventura volunteers to walk the beach and scout for any other oiled birds. The group found about 30 birds in one scouting trip. 

“It’s horrible. It is really sad. They are so helpless,” Holbrook said. 

With her protective gear on, Holbrook goes up to the birds and places them into a box for transportation. Sometimes, she has to use a long net to catch birds trying to evade capture by running back into the ocean.

Her findings rang alarms of concern for nonprofit organizations the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and the International Bird Rescue. 

As of Monday, the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network estimated that 10 birds were picked up in the county. International Bird Rescue reported that more than 100 birds were coated in oil as of Friday.

Oil trapped in a bird’s feathers can lead to hypothermia. Without intervention, a bird in that state could lead to death, according to International Bird Rescue.

“She’s our hero of the week because she has picked up probably half the birds that have come to our care,” said JD Bergeson, CEO of International Bird Rescue. 

The source of the oil in the ocean is suspected to be a naturally occurring oil seep but is being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. 

Holbrook continues to look for distressed birds, but now she is finding them in weakened states. 

On Monday, she reported a bird dying in the back of her truck before getting to a care center. Holbrook uses a gray Toyota Tacoma, a truck she bought solely for her volunteer duties because her regular car was beginning to smell like fish.

“It’s so sad, but you have to not think about it too much because if you did you wouldn’t be out there helping. You’d just be sad all the time,” Holbrook said. 

Caring for seabirds is not new to Holbrook. She began volunteering with the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network around 20 years ago. 

“I have always loved animals more than anything,” she said. 

Ariana Katovich, executive director of the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, applauds Holbrook’s dedication to the nonprofit organization’s mission.  

“Liz is 1000% dedicated to rescuing seabirds and wildlife in general, and she is on the beaches, going out one every call,” Katovich said.

Holbrook urges the community to report any unusual bird behaviors to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network hotline at 805-681-1080.