In a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS ONE, a group of scientists from various state and federal agencies, universities and bird rescue organizations documented the die-off and concluded from the data that it was caused by a record-breaking ocean heat wave in 2014 through 2016 that triggered systemic changes throughout the ocean ecosystem.
Seabirds
Warming Ocean Cause of Starving Seabirds
“We are seeing starvation, these birds are emaciated,” says Senior Environmental Scientist John Thompson, Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Thompson claims it is the changing weather pattern with El Niño conditions and the boost in ocean temperatures.
Common Murres Washing Ashore “In Droves”
One phrase people are using these days is “global weirding.” And I think that that is something that we’re seeing, the “blob” of warm water offshore is something that’s really never been seen before on this scale in the North Pacific, and I think we really don’t understand the implications of that yet, or what’s causing it exactly.
Shocking Report on Global Seabird Decline
Some of the largest population declines, according to the report, include terns at 85.8 percent. Frigatebirds decline by up to 81.7 percent. Petrels declines followed at 79.6 percent, while cormorants and shags populations dropped by up to 73.6 percent.
Phthalates Found in Aleutian Island Seabirds
The chemicals that Padula looks for in sea birds are called phthalates. They are a family of chemicals used to make plastic more flexible, and they can leach into the muscle and liver tissues of birds.
Padula found those chemicals in all of the birds she collected in the west Aleutians. But only some birds had visible pieces of plastic in their stomach.
Seabird Count Drops in Gulf of Alaska
U.S. Geological Survey experts found the seabird population density declined 2 percent annually from 1975 to 2012 in the northeast North Pacific, said John Piatt, research wildlife biologist at the USGS Alaska Science Center.
Seabird Mortality Rises on Pacific West Coast
Rare changes in wind patterns this fall have caused the Pacific Ocean off our coast to warm to historic levels, according to scientists. In mid-October, it was 65 degrees off the Farallon Islands and in Monterey Bay; in most years, water temperatures in those areas would be in the high 50s or low 60s.
Toxic Algae Warning for Monterey Bay–Could Harm Humans
April 30, 2014 SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —A new health warning has been issued urging people to not eat certain parts of anchovy, sardines, or crab caught in the Monterey Bay. Health officials said they are too toxic and can be… Read More ›
NWF Reports Gulf Oil Spill Damage: BP Challenges Report
The Christian Science Monitor recently summarized the National Wildlife Federation report issued April 8, 2014, that “…focused on 14 water, air, and land species located in the northern Gulf and affected by the oil spill, using data from independent scientists… Read More ›
Research Links Trace Metals in Seabirds to Plastic Ingestion
Plastic linked to metals in seabirds The University of Tasmania Monday, 03 February 2014 New research by the University of Tasmania has examined the toxic effects of seabirds ingesting marine plastic pollution and population decline. UTAS’ Institute for Marine and… Read More ›