Dead Murrres Wash Ashore on Alaska Beaches

People have reported sightings of dead seabirds on beaches ranging from Dutch Harbor to Prince William Sound this spring. Dead and sickly common murres were first seen in Dutch Harbor at the end of January, but numbers seemed to peak around mid-March when one observer saw 41 dead birds along a short stretch of beach. Dead murres were also seen around Kodiak, the Kenai Peninsula, Seward, the north coast of Bristol Bay, the Alaska Peninsula, and Prince William Sound from early March to the present. In addition, people have noticed odd behavior by live murres. Birds have been venturing closer to shore than usual, and they appear to be weak and listless. Birds have also been seen in unusual locations such as rivers and inland lakes.

There is currently no indication that other species are dying in unusual numbers.

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Vivian Mendenhall, specimens are being collected from affected areas for autopsy, which should help determine cause of death. Birds collected to date appear to be emaciated, but conclusions abut the cause of the die-off will not be available until the autopsies are performed. Both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey (Biological Resource Division) are conducting surveys. Much of the agencies, information, however, comes from reports by the public.

This die-off is not the first in recent years. More than 100,000 murres died in winter 1993 in the Gulf of Alaska, especially near Resurrection Bay. In summer 1997, several species of birds experienced die-offs along the Alaska Peninsula, in the Bering Sea, and north of the Bering Strait. Murres were affected at Nunivak and St. Lawrence Island. Starvation appeared to be the principal cause of all these deaths. The cause may have been the reduced availability of food due to unusually warm water temperatures. Biologists anticipated the possibility of another die-off this year as water temperatures remain several degrees above average.

As in 1997, most of the information and specimens received by biologists this spring have been from concerned citizens. People are encouraged to report any unusual sightings of dead or sickly birds. Estimates of numbers are especially helpful. Anybody with information should contact Vivian Mendenhall at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage at (907)786-3517 or Lisa Saperstein at (907)786-3553. Callers outside of the Anchorage area can call toll-free at (800)368-8890.

FWS