The 951 (and counting) birds collected alive after the San Francisco Bay oil spill are doing their part for science. Some of the birds are now subjects in studies led by veterinarians at the UC Davis Oiled Wildlife Care Network, who hope to improve treatments for oiled birds everywhere.

One study is using infrared thermography to spot birds that are losing heat too quickly [image at left]. In another study, birds will be equipped with radio transmitters so that researchers can study where they go and how long they live after they are released from the care center.

Of those 951 birds found alive, 197 later died or were euthanized, and 394 were washed. The remaining 360 are being monitored and fed in a warm room until they are strong enough for a bath.—Dawn Stover

See more shots of the birds after the jump.

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The terrific thing about NASA chief Michael Griffin's decision to launch a Hubble servicing mission–the telescope's fifth since 1990–isn't simply that the spacecraft will be able to limp along for another four years. After astronauts visit Hubble on this latest mission (set to launch no earlier than May 2008), the telescope will be more powerful than it has ever been, thanks to some incredible new instruments being tested now.

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