As BP battles to contain the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, the spill congeals around the flora and fauna of the coastline
Dripping
Thousands of rescue workers are engaged in the Herculean task of cleaning up the spreading oil. It is estimated that the oil is leaking at a rate of thousands, if not tens of thousands barrels a day.Hans Deryk / Reuters
In Danger
An oil soaked bird struggles against the oil slicked side of the HOS Iron Horse supply vessel in the area where a giant oil spill spread after the collapse of the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig.Gerald Herbert / AP
Victim
A Northern Gannet bird covered in oil is examined by Dr. Erica Miller, left, and Danene Birtell of Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research in Fort Jackson, La. The bird was recovered in the area where a giant oil slick spread after the collapse of the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig.Ann Heisenfelt / EPA
Care
Miller applies eyedrops to the bird's eyes.Ann Heisenfelt / EPA
Washed Ashore
Over the weekend, a number of dead sea turtles were discovered on the beaches of Mississippi.Dave Martin / AP
Pelican
Workers at Tri-state Bird Rescue wash oil off of a pelican captured on a barrier island off the Louisiana coast.Mira Oberman / AFP / Getty Images
Floater
A dead bird lies in oil-slicked water near Chandeleur Island, Louisiana.Alex Brandon / AP
Black Oval
Workers gather oil-soaked algae near Gulfport.Ben Gruber / Reuters
Oil Trails
The wildlife along the Gulf Coast is threatened by the progress of an oil slick that was released into the water after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig burned out of control for several days and collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill is leaking at a rate currently estimated to be increasing by 5,000 bbl. of oil a day.Gerald Herbert / AP
Toxic
Thick black waves of oil and brown whitecaps are seen off the side of the supply vessel Joe Griffin at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.Gerald Herbert / AP
Ablaze
The fire began on April 20, 2010. Witnesses say it was triggered by a sudden explosion that gave workers less than five minutes to escape the rig. Eleven workers remain unaccounted for.US Coast Guard / Getty Images
Patterns
On May 19, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal called attention to the large amounts of oil that have seeped into the marshes around the mouth of the Mississippi River.Gerald Herbert / AP
Fix?
The Joe Griffin leaves Port Fouchon, La., as it enters the Gulf of Mexico carrying the "dome" containment rig meant to cap the leaking well. BP's first attempt to lower the "dome' on to the well failed after an icy mix of oil and water built up in the structure's siphon.Gerald Herbert / Reuters
Low Flying
The crew of a Basler BT-67 fixed wing aircraft release oil dispersant over a portion of the spill.US Coast Guard / Reuters
Spread
The oil slick initially spread to an area 600 miles (965 km) in circumference.Gerald Herbert / AP
Below the Surface
In order to stanch the flow of oil, officials first tried to mobilize submersible robots that attempted to activate the rig's blowout preventer, a valve designed to shut off a well in the event of a sudden pressure release.AFP / Getty
Capping the Leak
BP (the company which was leasing the rig) will now try to lower this pollution control dome into place over one of the leaks, in order to catch the escaping oil and pump it to the surface safely.Mark Ralston / AFP / Getty
Swirls
Oil blobs collect near Chandeleur Island.Eric Gay / AP
Boat of Booms
Thousands of workers have been called in to assist in the effort.Dave Martin / AP
Blazing
Contained oil from the leaking rig is burned in a controlled fire.Justin Stumberg / AFP / Getty Images
Threatened
Seagulls and other birds fly past the oil booms near Venice, Louisiana.Eric Gay / AP
Cane
This is not sheen," said Jindal, "This is heavy oil...coming into our wetlands."Gerald Herbert / AP
Tar Ball
This sample was collected during Governor Jindal's visit to the Mississippi River Gulf outlet.Mira Oberman / AFP / Getty Images
Oil Soaked
A brown pelican, covered head to foot in oil is prepared for bathing at the Fort Jackson Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Buras, Louisiana.Hans Deryk / Reuters
Formation
This blob was photographed floating from the Gulf into the mouth of the Mississippi.John Moore / Getty Images
Swirls
Scientists are concerned about the presence of the darker liquid oil, which could be more dangerous to vegetation than the less toxic, reddish colored oil, which has emulsified.Sean Gardner / Greenpeace / Reuters
Winged
A dragonfly tried to clean itself of the oil in Garden Island Bay.Gerald Herbert / AP
Meanwhile…
Crews work to drill a relief well near the site of the collapsed rig. BP officials say that a procedure that could possibly shut the well completely will not be ready until next week.Patrick Kelley / AFP / Getty Images
