Scientists have been trying to discover the cause of death of many sea birds up and down the shores of the Pacific Coast. These mysterious deaths have been increasing in number since October 2014 and researchers are, thus far, baffled by the cause -- although they continue to investigate.
Of the many sea bird species the Cassin's aucklet, a small gray bird with a white belly, has been most affected. These birds first began disappearing from the rocky coasts of British Columbia, and the disappearances have extended to other areas as far south as California. At least 1,200 dead birds have washed ashore and been counted by the Seabird Survey Team and researchers from the University of Washington's Coastal Observation. Diane Bilderback, one of the volunteers, noted that she had not found any dead sea birds until the fall season.
According to the researchers, sea bird deaths are very common during the cold months, but the real concern is the very large number of sea birds that have been dying recently. Scientists first believed the sea bird deaths were caused by pollution, but this theory has since been eliminated when the root cause of death for the birds was found to be starvation. This makes researchers wonder if they birds simply cannot hunt for food, or if there could be a problem with the food source itself.
"The birds washing up on the beach seem to be starved and beaten up by the storms," Herman Biederbeck, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist in Tillamook, said in a recent press release. "We have seabird die-offs in the fall and early winter every year, but this year we're seeing elevated numbers."
One of the logical explanations scientists are considering is the fact that the breeding season of these birds was more prolific than ever, with larger than normal numbers of hatchlings that must fight for food, especially during the months of lower supplies.
Other possible causes being considered by scientists are the increasing temperatures of the ocean and rising acidity levels. These two factors can kill zooplankton, a sea bird's main food source, and could demonstrate just how devastating climate change can be on an ecosystem.
In an attempt to discover the cause of these deaths, researchers at Wisconsin's Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center will continue to investigate and conduct necropsies on the birds.
Philip Johnson, the executive director at the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, said that the deaths are unprecedented, especially in the areas where they were found. According to researchers, there is little risk to people encountering the dead birds. However, authorities are asking people not to touch or move them and notify local authorities if large groups of dead birds are encountered along the beach.
