Observation: Yesterday the Nanwalek IGAP Intern and I walked the beach and found two dead common murres. The location was about 1/2 down Nanwalek beach, Both were found on the tide lines. Nancy Yeaton, Nanwalek IRA Council
USGS National Wildlife Health Center Consult: (9-21-15) Since May 2015, the USGS-NWHC has been assisting the USFWS Region 7 migratory bird and refuge management offices, several USFWS refuges, National Park Service and Alaska Department of Fish and Game with multiple seabird mortality investigations located along the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean coastal areas of the Aleutian Islands East, Kodiak Island, Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound. Estimates on the size and scope of these events have ranged from a few birds ~5-10 to >100 birds being found at one time and location. The primary avian species being reported to date include murres (common and thick-billed), sooty shearwaters, black-legged kittiwakes, horned puffins and glaucous winged gulls. Some of these mortalities have been occurring concurrently with significant whale, pinniped, walrus, and fish mortalities throughout the summer. As of September 17th, 2015 NWHC has received multiple carcasses from USFWS, NPS and AK DFG for diagnostic examination to determine the cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic investigations have been challenging due to remoteness of the area and/or lack of suitable carcasses from some affected areas. The primary diagnostic finding for specimens received at NWHC for examinations has been emaciation in juvenile and adult birds; a few individuals have also had mild to moderate intestinal parasites. All birds examined have tested negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and pathogenic bacteria such as Pasteurella multocida. At this time there is no evidence of underlying disease. The cause(s) of the emaciation are still being pursued as there are many things, including simple lack of adequate food, heavy parasite loads, injury, chronic exposure to toxins such as lead and other contaminants, etc. Some diagnostic tests are still in progress including algal toxin analysis which can take a couple of weeks to get back since we do not currently test for this in-house. From the reports I have received from the field biologists, it appears the bird mortalities have subsided around the Aleutians East (Izembek), Kenai Peninsula and other areas along the Alaska Peninsula/Kodiak Island. If anyone has additional reports of recently dead or sick sea birds please feel free to pass them on to Kathy Kuletz (cc'd here) or myself as we may be interested in receiving a few carcasses for evaluation if they are in good post mortem condition. Barbara Bodenstein, USGS
LEO Comment: The bird die-offs continue. Thank you Nancy and Christoper for keeping us appraised of the situation in Nanwalek.
