Islands’ Oil Spill Association is giving a free class on Sunday, May 6, on Lopez Island to train people who would like to help with Search and Rescue/Collection of Oiled Birds in the event of an oil spill in or near the San Juan Islands.

The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife requires that anyone working with oiled birds or in an area where there is oil first have a minimum of eight hours training.  The class on May 6 is one of two classes needed to get that eight-hour certification and will give participants about five hours toward that eight-hour requirement.

The first half of the training will be in the classroom, then we’ll go out to a beach and work on strategies and techniques for stalking, capturing and providing initial care for oiled birds.

Pre-registration is required for this training.

Please call the IOSA office at 378-5322 or email us at: iosaoffice@rockisland.com for more information and/or to register for the class.