Louisiana cleanup crews trampled pelican nests, official says

CNN Wire Staff

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/06/16/louisiana.trampled.nests/story.trampled.nests.jpg caption="The nesting grounds of brown pelicans and other birds have been affected, the Plaquemines Parish president says." width=300 height=169]

Venice, Louisiana (CNN) - Crews cleaning up the oil in one Louisiana parish have trampled the nests and eggs of birds including the brown pelican, which came off the endangered species list last year, the head of the parish said Wednesday.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said the parish doesn't want to turn away contractors, but he called for more care when crews work in the sensitive wetlands.

He said officials recently found broken eggs and crushed chicks on Queen Bess Island, near Grand Isle.

Plastic bags containing snare boom were "recklessly placed" around the island without consideration for wildlife. In one picture released by the parish, a plastic bag was on top of a nest containing broken speckled eggs.

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