Thousands of dead sea birds found washed up in Western Alaska, USA

Seabirds in the state are washing up on beaches once again, this time in Western Alaska, in numbers estimated to be in the thousands.

The reason why they’re dying has been determined, but the true cause behind the die-off has scientists investigating further into the pattern.

“The results come back pretty quickly. Currently, they determined the cause of death appears to be due to emaciation, starvation.”

That’s Robb Kaler, a wildlife biologist at USFWS’s Migratory Bird office in Anchorage. He said one of the birds has been sent in and tested, and another six are on the way.

While labs and scientists can see the cause of death due to a number of contributing physical factors, how they got that way is another question; one that experts don’t yet have the definitive answer to.

“There’s probably multiple factors at play. You’ve got birds that are starving, so we know why they’re dying, they’re dying of starvation,” Kaler said. “But the question is, why are they not able to find food? What’s happening?”

Courtesy of ktuu.com

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