but this region s devastating spill may have killed thousands of birds. many were found fighting for survival. we brought you some of their stories. this brown pelican was justice rescued moments ago. this is the first step in a long road for this animal s recovery. reporter: officials say about 80% of the oil-covered birds were treated and eventually returned back to the wild. why is this refuge so important to our country? these islands represent some of the most important nesting habitat for colonial sea birds. not just in louisiana but in the united states. reporter: more than 60,000 birds are expected to nest in the bretten refuge, laying eggs and raising their young. you can see in front of us we ve got three pelican nests, each one filled with a clutch of precious pelican eggs. and this is about the future for this species. it is. this is the next generation. these are the ones that will