Common Murre event

Dec2015 to Jan2016

Common Murre Event - Dec 2015 to Jan 2016

Latest news: the results of investigations published on 15 Jan 2020 point to high ocean temperatures affecting food sources as the main driver for the deaths. It also found strong impacts to reproductive success among birds that lived through the event. This article summarizes the investigations, and you can look at the scientific publication for more detailed information.

Skagway experienced a mass mortality of Common Murres [COMU] due to starvation as part of a larger region-wide event.

--> In summer, 2015 reproduction failed at Kachemak Bay and other COMU colonies

--> September, 2015 COMU problems were reported from Kodiak

--> early December, 2015 Mary Willson reported on large numbers of COMU at Berner's Bay.

She noted that the food available to COMU there was much lower in fat content than their regular prey.

--> late December, 2015 COMUs were found inland in southcentral Alaska.

--> early January, 2016 thousands of dead COMU washed up at Whittier

--> late January, 2016 National Wildlife Health Center calls for investigation of murre die off

--> late January, 2016 how mass mortality events are monitored

--> late January, 2016 current murre die off in Alaska compared to Exxon Valdez

--> March, 2016 dead COMU still being found in Alaska, scientists look for cause

In 2012, Skagway had a local die-off of COMUs (see Common Murre Event - January 2012). Some dead birds were sent to the USFWS lab, where preliminary examination showed signs of starvation. Lab work was not completed, therefore the cause of starvation - food supply, pathogens, toxins, etc. was not determined.

FOR SKAGWAY-DYEA AREA between 6 DEC 2015 and 26 JAN 2016:

approximate number dead COMU: 67

approximate number live COMU returned to saltwater: 4

COMU at AML (photo by K.Calver)

December 2015

6 Dec, one COMU was observed unable to manoeuver itself away from crashing waves with woody flotsam near the Ore dock, and was later seen dead on the shore.

7 Dec, a COMU was collected by Cory Bricker and Kelly Calver at AML - it was found on the ground in a vacant lot next door. Elaine and Joanne responded. The bird did not seem overly thin, no obvious signs of injury but one wing was being held slightly away from its body. It was alert and responsive, but also weak. The bird was taken to the small boat harbor and released at water's edge. It paddled away. Next morning no carcasses or sick birds were seen in the area. 8 Dec, Eric Hosford found a COMU on Dyea road near his house. He took the bird to John McDermott, who did not see any obvious signs of injury. He planned to examine it more closely in the morning, and to release it back into the water if it didn't seem injured or sick. Unfortunately, the next morning the bird was dead. 13 Dec, police dispatch contacted Elaine about a report of a murre on the ground at the small boat harbor near the RV campground fence. Elaine walked around the reported area for some time, but did not find the bird. She did see lots of fresh dog tracks. The report was submitted by John McD based on a post to his facebook site.

19 Dec, two dead COMU were seen on Nahku Bay beach. (Christmas Bird Count, Dyea Road route)

19 Dec, 70 live COMU were recorded in the Skagway-Dyea area (Christmas Bird Count)

29 Dec, 4 dead COMU were removed from the small boat harbor and Skagway waterfront shores. A few birds that weren't scavenged too badly were examined and found to have prominent keels with little fat - a sign of starvation (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

29 Dec, 2 dead COMU were removed from the small boat harbor. (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

29-30 Dec, 3 dead COMU were seen on Dyea flats beach (Pam Joy)

30 Dec, about 12 dead COMU were seen on Nahku Bay beach, and a dog caught a live bird. (Gary Heger)

31 Dec, 2 dead COMU were removed from the small boat harbor. (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

31 Dec, 1 COMU found inland at Wayne Greenstreet's place in Dyea. He contacted the rescue group through police dispatch. The bird did not seem injured, and had some energy, so Elaine advised returning it to saltwater. Wayne took it to the flats, released it, and observed it on the water and taking small flights.

January 2016

Between 29 Dec2015 and 10 Jan 2016, 20 dead COMU seen along the Skagway waterfront (from the small boat harbor to the mouth of the Skagway River) 13 carcasses were removed for disposal. 4 bodies were seen floating in deep water, and 3 bodies washed up on icy steep rocky banks. (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

3 Jan, 24+ dead COMU on beach at Nahku [long] Bay (Kim Burnham)

5 Jan, 4 dead COMU found in the kelp line on the beach at Nahku Bay (John McDermott)

5 Jan, 1 live COMU was found inland and brought to Sean Smith by a Dyea resident. After consulting with John McD and Elaine, Sean determined that the bird did not have any injuries. Sean and John released it at Nahku [long] Bay that evening. John reported "It seemed strong and had some fat on it, scampered out from the beach and dived. Think it might make it."

8 Jan, 1 live COMU was found inland by Kim Burnham, who attempted to get assistance from the rescue group but was unable to reach anybody. The bird did not seem injured, but did seem weak. She took it to the small boat harbor and released it back into the water. It swam away towards another COMU nearby.

11 Jan, 1 dead COMU was seen floating in deeper water, and one live, but lethargic COMU was seen, both in the small boat harbor. 1 live COMU was seen at the mouth of the Skagway River (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

12 Jan, 2 dead COMU were seen near the Ore dock (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

20 Jan, 1 dead COMU and 2 live COMU were seen on the Skagway waterfront (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

22 Jan, 2 dead COMU near the Ore dock (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

24 Jan, 29 live COMU recorded in Skagway-Dyea area - 4 members of bird club coordinated to survey area at same time (J. & A. Beierly, C.E. Furbish, K. Russo)

24 Jan, 1 dead COMU floating in Nahku Bay (seen during survey above)

26 Jan, 1 dead COMU was seen being killed and eaten in the water by a seal at the small boat harbor (Joanne and Andrew Beierly)

No dead or displaced COMU were reported after 26 January. Small groups of live, feeding COMU were reported on the water throughout February.

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