Dead Birds, Including Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris), Washed Up on Beach

Observation by Jaclyn Christensen:

Two of our community members came to me with the concern of the ducks die-off on our beach. Sea birds were described as black ducks. As you can see here from the tracks next to the bird, the fox did not even attempt to scavenge off the bird, maybe due to state of decay or lack of the resource being healthy enough to consume. Also note that the birds are at the last high tide mark indicating they drifted up with sea debris.

Hillary Burgess, Science Coordinator for the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), writes:

We have also heard reports of high numbers of shearwaters washing-in from St. Paul Island, Pilot Point, and Ugashik - five birds were collected from the latter and will be sent via USFWS to the NWHC.

Kathy Kuletz, Seabird Coordinator with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), writes:

Thanks for the report and pictures. The bird in the first image appears to be a short-tailed shearwater, as does the bird in the forefront of the second photo. I'm not sure about the bird in the back of the latter, but its likely a shearwater also, perhaps with plumage in disarray or muddy.

Yes, there have been reports of dead birds washing up along the Alaska Peninsula and into Bristol Bay. Some birds look sick or about to die, and others wash up dead. I have a report from a Bristol Bay fisherman that shearwaters are hanging around boats and sometimes getting caught in nets, which is unusual for that area. We are working to get freshly dead carcasses. We've received 5 carcasses from Pilot Point, which we sent on to the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for necropsy and extraction of tissue for further analysis.

Any information on location, numbers of birds, types (and pictures) of birds, and extent of area where the die-off occurred is helpful. Sometimes a video of a bird that acts sick or abnormal can be helpful in directing diagnostic tests. If there are people on the ground who can collect freshly dead birds, it would be great to get them to our office in Anchorage.

As always, please be careful handling birds, using latex or other gloves and washing hands afterwards. Generally the carcasses need to be frozen, unless it is a one-day turnaround to Anchorage and they can be kept cool. Carcasses need to be very fresh, have relatively clean plumage, no open wounds or decay, with eye still intact. We try to get several birds of each species observed, but even one carcass is useful. There may be someone local who is already coordinating with us who can assist, and we can cover any shipment costs.

Necropsy reports should be available within a week or two (to determine if the birds have starved, and results of some disease tests). Testing for toxins usually takes much longer, between 1-3 months, depending on the types of tests, or availability of other labs (there is a US Geological Survey lab in Anchorage that can conduct some of the tests).

Thanks for helping us document these events.

8/1/2019 Update Kathy Kuletz writes:

To date, we've sent 5 shearwaters from Pilot Point to the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC), and the initial necropsy shows starvation as the cause of death. It's not possible at this time to determine if there was exposure to HAB toxins, but tissues will be sent to labs for testing (though again, it is very difficult to detect such toxins in dead birds, especially if they have nothing in their gut and no fat on their bodies). Other birds are coming in that we plan on sending to the NWHC on Monday (8/5/19), along with a few other carcasses, including the one from Port Heiden.

Exposure to harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins may hinder the bird's ability to forage, leading to starvation. Yes, fish may be moving too deep for the birds with warm water conditions. However, shearwaters eat a lot of krill (euphausiids), normally plentiful in summer along the Alaska Peninsula and other areas of Southeast Alaska. It may be lack of krill, squid, or small fish near the surface (although shearwaters can dive and swim underwater as well, typically around 20-meter depth, but have been measured at up to 70-meters deep). Fewer fish or other prey, or of lower quality (less energy dense) could also be affecting them.

Comments from LEO Editors:

This is the second LEO Network observation of seabird mortality along the coast. In late June, observers in Shishmaref found dead birds on the beach along with dead fish, krill, and stranded sea mammals.

Observers can report sick or dead birds to regional contacts:

• North Slope: Taqulik Hepa (907) 852-0350

• Northwest Arctic: Cyrus Harris (907) 442-7914

• Bering Strait region: Brandon Ahmasuk (907) 443-4265 or Gay Sheffield (907) 434-1149

• Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta: Jennifer Hooper (907) 543-7470

• Bristol Bay: Gayla Hoseth (907) 842-6252

• Aleutian/Pribilof Islands: Lauren Divine (907) 257-891-3031

or to US Fish and Wildlife Service directly by calling 1-866-527-3358.

Information to report includes:

• Location, date, and time observed
• Size of area observed (e.g. length of beach)
• Type and number of birds
• Photos of the sick or dead birds
• Video of unusual behavior (approachable or drooping)

To ensure the best possible quality of sample, please coordinate the shipment with a contact at USFWS or partner organization. 

 

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) actively works to track seabird die-offs. COASST offers training for residents to survey a beach and submit data when a die-off occurs. More information on the process can be found at the COASST Die-Off Alert program website.