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Melissa Mayntz

Melissa's Birding / Wild Birds Blog

By Melissa Mayntz, About.com Guide to Birding / Wild Birds

Sea Foam Killing Seabirds

Friday October 23, 2009
According to OregonLive.com, thousands of seabirds have been killed by Akashiwo sanguinea, a type of algae foam, in recent weeks along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. While algae blooms are not uncommon, the scale of this event is the largest ever recorded on the West coast. Recent storms are contributing to the problem by washing the foam into large sticky clumps. The foam strips birds of the natural oils that weatherproof their feathers, eventually causing hypothermia and death.

The majority of birds affected are loons, murres, grebes and scoters. The Wildlife Center of the North Coast near Astoria, Oregon, is the only rehabilitation facility in the area and they are struggling to care for the more than 500 birds that have been brought to the center. Volunteers and cash donations are welcome to help care for the birds, and donations of towels, bleach and large dog kennels to carry the birds are also needed.

For more information or to donate, visit www.CoastWildlife.org.

Algae Sea Foam
Photo © John Wigham

Comments

October 23, 2009 at 3:36 pm
(1) Cool Garden Things says:

That is really sad…I just read today that fireflies are also on the decline…
GartenGrl

October 23, 2009 at 3:38 pm
(2) Planning Plants to Plant says:

That is sad…I just read today that fireflies are on the decline as well…

October 27, 2009 at 10:48 pm
(3) Jennifer Kennedy says:

It looks like this could affect fish as well as birds – scary! Melissa, do you know where they are going to release the birds they’ve rehabbed? It seems like they couldn’t release them where they picked them up.

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