PORT TOWNSEND — Researchers hope that necropsies this week will reveal the cause of a dramatic increase in the number of dead or starving Cassin’s auklets appearing on regional beaches.
According to the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) at the University of Washington, more than 700 dead auklets were discovered on beaches in northern Washington in December, a figure 128 times normal levels.
This represents a rapid increase over October when mortality was 17 times more than normal and November, which saw death rates 56 times higher than normal, according to COASST seabird program coordinator Jane Dolliver.
Birds were sent to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis., for necropsies with results expected as early as Friday.
Earlier test results from birds gathered in California did not point to viruses or bacteria, ruling out the avian flu as the cause of the die-off, according to Dolliver.
The Cassin’s auklet is a zooplankton-eating seabird that breeds from Alaska to Baja California with an estimated population of 3.5 million, according to COASST.
Since October, the small, white-bellied gray birds have washed ashore in unprecedented numbers on beaches between British Columbia and Central California.
While the majority of the deaths have been on Pacific Ocean beaches, Heidi Pedersen, citizen science coordinator with Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, said some dead birds have been noted on Peninsula beaches along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
She did not have specific numbers for those deaths Monday, but did say they were not as numerous as those on the Pacific beaches.
Cynthia Daily, operator of the nonprofit Discovery Bay Raptor Rehabilitation and Education Center in Port Townsend has already taken in six starving Cassin’s auklets this year, but three have died. Several of the birds were brought in from Neah Bay.
Two of the three remaining are rehabilitated and ready for release, but Daily is waiting until the spring “because there is no food out there.”
“People are going to find these birds on the beach and might not know what to do,” Daily said.
“I want the public to know they can bring them here, and we will take care of them until they are ready for release and the food supply has come back.”
Dolliver said that the reason for the massive die-off “is the $3 million question,” but she feels that it has to do with more than just a shortage of food.
“If it was only a lack of food, then more species would be affected, although it could have something with their inability to get food,” she said.
It’s normal for some seabirds to die during harsh winter conditions, especially during big storms, but the scale of the current die-off is unusual, researchers say, speculating it could be the result of a successful breeding season leading to too many young birds competing for food.
Unusually violent storms might be pushing the birds into areas they’re not used to or preventing them from foraging, or a warmer, more acidic ocean could be affecting the supply of tiny zooplankton, such as krill, that the birds eat.
Daily is affiliated with the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center in Sequim, working cooperatively to rescue and rehabilitate the birds.
The auklets will end up with Daily since the other facility concentrates on raptors “and because I just bought $800 worth of fish.”
With some new construction, Daily said she can accommodate as many auklets as needed.
“I’ll make room,” she said.
“If I need to house 50 birds, I’ll just put them in one of the big cages.”
Dolliver said the highest concentration of dead auklets appeared on central Washington’s Pacific beaches, numbering 563 birds per square kilometer.
Those discovering a quantity of dead birds locally don’t need to report the situation as COASST has a network of more than 80 volunteers monitoring North Olympic Peninsula beaches, Dolliver said.
Almost all of the auklets found on the beaches are dead, and Daily said she is not aware of any live auklet rescues on the Northern Olympic Peninsula since the die-off began.
While the inclination for anyone who finds an immobile bird might be to leave it alone or put it back in the water, a rescue is the recommended path, according to Jaye Moore, Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center director.
“If people find a bird they should put it in a warm, quiet place and give us a call,” Moore said.
“They should put them in a shoebox or someplace safe and warm them up so they don’t need to be cold while they are waiting for care.”
Moore said that many people who find a beached bird are heading back to another location and pass through Sequim or Port Townsend, facilitating dropping off a bird in need of help.
For those who are traveling elsewhere, a pickup can be arranged.
Daily said that any beached bird’s feathers have lost their natural waterproof properties, so leaving the bird on the beach or putting it into the water will lead to its death.
Even if a bird appears healthy, Daily’s first order of business is to restore the bird’s waterproofing. This is accomplished by cleaning any contaminants out of its feathers, sometimes with dishwashing soap.
This process to restore the feathers can take three weeks, Daily said.
To restore the waterproofing, Daily cleans the birds repeatedly and puts them under a dryer.
Daily said she knew last year that it would be a rough winter for the auklets because of predictions of a diminishing food supply, which is why she decided to keep the two healthy birds through the winter.
For more information or to report a bird in distress, phone Daily at 360-379-0802. She will then provide further instructions for care.
To reach the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center in Sequim, phone 360-681-2283.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
