Common Murre Event - January 2012

44 dead Common Murres (COMU) and 1 dead Marbled Murrelet (MAMU) were found onshore in Skagway and Dyea over about a one-week period in early January, 2012.  During that same time, 6 live COMU and one live MAMU were found on land, usually acting disoriented, and were captured and returned to the water. 

3 carcasses were sent to Deb Rudis with the USFWS in Juneau, who forwarded them to the USFWS National Wildlife Health Lab for analysis.  The initial necroposy report from the lab indicated that the birds died of starvation, more information may be available in the pathology report.  Update: the pathology testing has apparently been cancelled.

Weather:  from Saturday (7 Jan) night to Monday (9 Jan) midday Skagway experienced a winter storm with warm (temps in the 40s F), sustained winds out of the south at 30-40 mph, and gusts to 53mph. This was the 5th strong warm front from the south with high winds to move through Skagway in January. Thirteen similar storms occurred in Skagway during December of 2011. Therefore, while the storm that happened when we started to see dead COMU may have contributed to the murres' deaths, it was probably not the sole cause of the deaths.  There may have been changes to their prey species within the water that were not apparent to us.  On Tuesday (10 Jan) the winds calmed and temperatures fell into the teens (F).  Click here for weather graphs

UPDATE 27 Jan - Initial necropsy report from USFWS National Wildlife Health Lab in Madison, Wisconsin indicated starvation as immediate cause of death.   A pathology report was originally scheduled, but later cancelled.

Sunday+Monday (8-9 Jan)

Skagway -

11 dead COMU found on Skagway waterfront shore

1 dead COMU found upland in town (~ 1 mile from waterfront)         

3 live COMU found upland in town (~ 100 feet, ~1/2 mile and ~3 miles from waterfront), monitored and returned to the water 

Nahku Bay - not checked

Dyea - not checked         

Tuesday (10 Jan)             

Skagway -  4 dead COMU found on Skagway waterfront on shore or near shore

Nahku Bay - not checked

Dyea - not checked

Wednesday (11 Jan)        

Skagway -         

5 dead COMU found on Skagway waterfront shore         

1 dead COMU found upland in town (~100 feet from waterfront)         

1 live COMU observed at Skagway waterfront walking out of water, sitting on shore for awhile, then returning to the water when gulls threatened it                 

Nahku Bay -

8-10 dead COMU found along shore at head of bay, at least 2 recently dead, at least one with very thin keel  

1 dead marbled MAMU (probable) found along shore at head of bay     

1 live MAMU found found upland (~50 feet from shore), somewhat lively, it was returned to the water

Dyea -

1 dead COMU (presumed) found along shore at mouth of Taiya River, being scavenged

2 dead COMU found upland (~50 feet, and ~1 mile from bay waters), being scavenged or with signs of scavenging

1 live COMU found in side slough of Taiya River, acting weak and lethargic, it was moved back into the water

NOTE:  some COMU carcasses sent to Deb Rudis, USFWS in Juneau.  She forwarded them to the USFWS National Wildlife Health Lab in Madison, Wisconsin.

Thursday (12 Jan)    

Skagway -   4 live COMU along waterfront, swimming slowly close to shore

Nahku Bay - 

1 dead COMU

8-10 COMU swimming close to shore at head of bay 

 Dyea, not including the flats -  no COMU seen, no dead or distressed birds of other species seen          

Friday (13 Jan)         

Skagway -         

8 dead COMU found on Skagway waterfront shore         

1 live COMU found upland (~100 feet from bay waters), very lively, returned to the water         

[1 dead CORA reported upland ~1 mile from bay waters]        

 Nahku Bay - not checked

 Dyea - not checked

Saturday (14 Jan)

Skagway - no sick or dead birds seen

Nahku Bay - not checked 

Dyea - not checked