Charleston's raptor center still on standby for Gulf - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - The head of a South Carolina raptor center says he is still standing by to dispatch workers to the Gulf Coast if needed to clean oiled birds.

Jim Elliott with the Center for Birds of Prey near Charleston says even though it's been almost two months since the Gulf oil disaster started, it's still relatively early to determine the shoreline impact.

Elliott says about 1,700 oiled birds have been recovered so far and there are enough people on site to clean them.

But he expects the number of oiled birds to increase as oil keeps leaking. Elliott says South Carolina volunteers will be sent if more help is needed.

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