Black-legged kittiwakes dying in Kotzebue Sound area

Observation by Susan Tessier:

A couple of weeks ago I spotted a small gull on the second bridge behind Kotzebue. The bird wouldn't fly and was walking slowly. Then yesterday I noticed a dead kittiwake on the side of the road on my walk to work. Today I counted 10 along the lagoon shoreline. On Facebook yesterday others posted that they were in front of town and down the beach as well as north of town at Augie's barge. This has been reported.

LEO Editor Comment:

Thank you Susan for sharing this observation. This is the first bird die-off observation LEO Network has received this year. We have shared this observation with wildlife and public health agency officials. As illustrated in the 'related posts' (attached) bird die-offs have occurred frequently in recent years from a variety of different causes, from starvation to infectious disease. With no confirmation on the cause of this die-off, people coming in contact with a sick or dead bird are advised to not touch the animal, and to share the observation with wildlife officials. To report observations and concerns about migratory birds, email ak_mbm@fws.gov or call 1-866-527-3358. You can posts photos, videos and observations to LEO Network. LEO Network welcomes observations and comments from members about bird health this summer. M.Brubaker

Comment by January Frost, USFWS:

We also received multiple calls and I'm currently working with biologists in the area to retrieve and test carcasses.