Continuing Die-Off of Marine Birds in Alaska
Observation Trend: Since the first post of a bird die-off in King Cove, Alaska on July 25, 2015, there have been 16 observations of sea bird die-offs reported on LEO Network including observations provided by tribal environmental managers in St. George, Sand Point, King Cove, McDonald Spit, Nanwalek, Goodnews Bay, Seldovia, Illiamna, Chistochina, Anchorage, and Port Graham. These include a variety of species, but primary events involving common murres. There have also been reports of bird-die offs in many other places in Alaska, and along the western sea board. There was also a post from St. George about poor fledgling of chicks among all sea bird populations.
Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team Consult: Dr. Julia Parrish, Executive Director, (COASST) writes, "Sea Birds - During the summer of 2015 seabirds and marine mammals from Wingham Island to Adak have washed ashore sick and dying. Unusually high counts of Common Murres were recorded even before breeding started at several points along the coastline. By August, elevated counts of murres had been recorded throughout Alaska and the lower 48 West Coast. Is there a connection? For the last two years, the surface waters in the North Pacific have been warmer than normal. This so-called “Blob” has been associated with shifts in the marine food-web, drastic changes in the feeding habitat of seabirds, and the incidence of harmful algal blooms throughout the North Pacific. With a predicted El Niño event on the horizon, a second warmer winter may further stress the marine ecosystem." Source: University of Washington
LEO says: (2016-01-26) To get an update and review of murre activity along the Northern and Eastern Pacific shoreline, check out the University of Washington's, Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) blogs,
Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) blogs: Alaska Murre Update - "By now, you’ve likely heard the news of the startlingly high number of Common Murres washing ashore in Prince William Sound and beyond, as well as the reports of murres flying inland to the Mat-Su and elsewhere. In fact, many of you have been out there on affected beaches in Homer, Seward and elsewhere counting the bodies and collecting our baseline data. Thank you for those efforts, and particularly during the dead of winter..."
Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) blogs: 2015 in review: Murres on the Beach; "Goodbye 2015! You were a strange year for the North Pacific: “the blob” stuck around, elevated numbers of Common Murres washed-in throughout the COASST range, harmful algal blooms, and lets not forget the Cassin’s Auklet wreck last winter. What does it all mean?" M.Brubaker, M.Tcheripanoff
Media:
Alaska Public Media (2016-01-15) - Dead murres wash upon Haines' beach - "More than a dozen dead common murres washed up on the beach in front of Haines on Tuesday, part of an unsettling trend happening across the state. According to biologists, the seabirds are starving to death. Rob Kaler is a biologist specializing in seabirds with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Migratory Bird Management division. He says in the past few weeks alone the conservative estimate for dead murres washing up on Alaska shores is up to 10,000. The birds are starving to death; a cascading effect of warmer ocean water, he says. Kaler explains that the mixing of cold and warm water raises nutrients like plankton, closer to the surface. When the water stays warm, that doesn’t happen which impacts the entire food chain. The overall impact this die-off will have on the total population is unknown. There are 2.8 million common murres in Alaska. If these deaths continue to occur, and include lots of adult females in their breeding peaks, than it’s possible, he says. And while the number of deaths this year is usually high, murre die-offs have happened in the past. Kaler says they are mostly related to El Nino. Biologist Kaler encourages anyone who sees dead birds to report them to ak_mbm@fws.gov or call the hotline at 866-527-3358." By Jillian Rogers, KHNS - Haines
KUAC FM 89.9 (2016-01-22) - Researchers: 'Blob' of Unusually Warm Ocean Water May be Causing Seabirds to Starve - "Unusually warm ocean water may be causing seabirds to starve." By Tim Ellis
Christopher Anahonak ObserverNanwalek, Alaska, United States
IGAP Intern
Nanwalek Tribal Council
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Clarissa Devine ObserverSand Point Alaska, United States
Environmental Coordinator Environmental Department
Qagan Tayagungin Tribe
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Wilson Justin ObserverChistochina Alaska, United States
Elder
Native Village of Chistochina
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Christy McDonald ObserverAmeriCorps VISTA
ANTHC
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Naomi McMullen ObserverPort Graham Alaska, United States
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Michael Opheim ObserverSeldovia Alaska, United States
Intertribal Liaison Subsistence Department
Chugach Regional Resources Commission
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Barbara Bodenstein ConsultantMadison Wisconsin, United States
Wildlife Disease Specialist
US Geological Survey - USGS
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Karin Holser ConsultantSaint George Alaska, United States
Pribilof Island Sentinel Program
St. George, Alaska Traditional Council
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Julia Parrish ConsultantSeattle Washington, United States
Executive Director
Coastal Observation & Seabird Survey Team (COASST)
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Caroline Van Hemert ConsultantAnchorage Alaska, United States
Research Wildlife Biologist
US Geological Survey - USGS
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Mike Brubaker Editor |
Ocean 'blob' brings bad fish food to B.C. watersNortheast Pacific Ocean
Jun 8, 2015
CBC News
Event
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Seabird DeathsSeldovia, Alaska, United States
Nov 22, 2015
Event
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Seabird DeathsSeldovia, Alaska, United States
Sep 23, 2015
Event
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More Murre Deaths (Uria aalge)Nanwalek, Alaska, United States
Sep 22, 2015
Event
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Poor Bird FledglingSt. George, Alaska, United States
Aug 27, 2015
Event
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Dead SeabirdsGoodnews Bay, Alaska, United States
Aug 21, 2015
Event
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Dead Birds - Murres (Uria aalge)Nanwalek, Alaska, United States
Aug 17, 2015
Event
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Dead Birds (Cepphus columba) In HarborSand Point, Alaska, United States
Aug 2, 2015
Event
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Dead Birds On McDonald's SpitSeldovia, Alaska, United States
Jul 30, 2015
Event
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Dead Birds - Seagulls and MagpiesSand Point, Alaska, United States
Jul 25, 2015
Event
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Dead Birds - Seagulls, Puffins, MurresKing Cove, Alaska, United States
Jul 17, 2015
Event
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Winter Storm Grounds BirdsIliamna, Alaska, United States
Dec 31, 2015
Event
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Common Murre (Uria aalge) StrandingChistochina, Alaska, United States
Jan 1, 2016
Event
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Common murre (Uria aalge) in AnchorageAnchorage, Alaska, United States
Jan 3, 2016
Event
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Dead Murres (Uria aalge)Port Graham, Alaska, United States
Jan 6, 2016
Event
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Common Murres (Uria aalge) Sighted On IliamnaKokhanok, Alaska, United States
Jan 20, 2016
Event
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Dead Murres (Uria aalge)Seldovia, Alaska, United States
Nov 23, 2015
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Dead Birds On Spit BeachSand Point, Alaska, United States
Mar 28, 2016
Event
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