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Biologists fear the worst as Bay Area seabirds starve
SFGATE • • science
Key Points:
- International Bird Rescue has admitted 162 starving murre seabirds from Northern California beaches this year, with a surge in cases since August, many showing severe emaciation and feather damage.
- Biologists are concerned the current marine heat wave, combined with the upcoming El Niño, may trigger a mass die-off similar to the event a decade ago when millions of murres died due to disrupted food sources.
- Despite intensive care, most rescued seabirds are dying, and scientists are conducting tests to rule out diseases or toxins as contributing factors to the recent deaths.
- The 2010s die-off was linked to a cascading ecosystem shift caused by prolonged warm ocean temperatures, reducing nutritious prey and increasing competition among marine predators.
- Researchers plan to continue monitoring seabird populations through beach surveys and colony observations to better understand and respond to the ongoing environmental challenges.
