03/05/2013 Newsround

Happy Friday afternoon. I'm Ricky, here is what's coming up. Stop

killing birds. We meet the school kids trying to save sea birds. The

rubber duck - you don't want a new bathroom - this is Newsround.

First, to a chemical spill that the RSPB is calling one of the worst in

decades. Twice on the south coast of England, sea birds have washed

up on beaches covered in a sticky substance. 2,500 have died. It is a

chemical found in chewing gum to tyres. It is called PIB.

Sea birds - beautiful, agile hunters that we rarely get to see.

Since January thousands have washed up on beaches like this because of

pollution. Thousands of birds out there have suffered as a

consequence of this being in the water. It is very sticky. When it

mixes with sea water it becomes very sticky and it matts the bird's

feather, so they cannot swim. They suffer very quickly. Scientists

here at the University of Plymouth have worked out this could be the

substance causing all the problems. It is a type of PIB. As you can see,

it is very sticky. It is thought this type of PIB is used in ship

engines. It is legal to release it into sea under certain conditions.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is investigating where the chemical

has come from, but admits it is unlikely they will be able to find

the ship or ships responsible. Children at this school in Cornwall

are seeing for themselves the dead birds washing up on the beaches

they are playing on. They have started a campaign to do something

about it. We live near the beaches. We don't like to see dead birds.

They haven't done anything to us. Why should we harm them? All these

birds are dying, so we want to change the law to ban PIB. What are

you doing to try and stop this happening? We have written to the

Government, an MP and Prince Charles. We don't have a reply yet

and we feel quite angry. shipping minister has told

These guillemots here are in the final stages of rehabilitation.

Questions remain unanswered about what happened out in the waters.

Thank you. Over on the Newsround website you can see a sea birds rap

the children have done. We will follow that for you to see how

their campaign goes. Are you more like this, or this? Well, a head

teacher from London has people talking about encouraging pupils

not to have best friends and have big groups of friends instead. He

has told a newspaper having just one mate can make other kids feel

left out and upset. On the website, I know I've had one of these in my

baths before. I bet you guys have too. I am not sure you will find a

bath big enough for this! This 16- metre rubber duck was pulled across

Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. It has been around the world and the

artist wants it to inspire peace and harmony. Bring on the bank

holiday. It is a megaweekend with three days off school. The good

news - most of you will have some sunshine. During this bank holiday

weekend it seems we'll see a big contrast in temperatures. Strong

sunshine in May. Where will it be warmest? Northern areas,

particularly Scotland and Northern Ireland will be breezy with rain at