A decade ago, something strange was happening along the Alaskan coast: Thousands of dead seabirds were washing up on beaches, and no one knew why. What started as a mystery quickly turned into a chilling example of how rapidly climate change can devastate marine life, Audubon reported.
What happened?
In 2015, thousands of dead Common Murres (detailed here by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) began washing up along the Alaskan coast. Initially, scientists weren't concerned since die-offs happen about once a decade for Pacific seabirds. But as the bodies continued to show up on beaches from Alaska to California, and breeding colonies failed to produce chicks, it became clear that this was something worth ringing alarm bells over.
By 2016, an estimated 62,000 murres had washed ashore.
Now, 10 years later, scientists have published research on the phenomenon, revealing that the real number was closer to 4 million, Audubon reported. That's almost half of Alaska's murre population gone, all because they couldn't find enough fish to eat.
"We were looking at those numbers, and we're thinking, 'Wait a minute, this can't be right,'" says study co-author Julia Parrish, a University of Washington seabird expert.
The cause was a massive two-year marine heat wave called "the blob," which heated ocean waters by up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit and wiped out fish populations. This is now seen as the largest wildlife die-off ever recorded.
"It was a gut punch to realize how much worse it was than what we had expected," said Heather Renner, a supervisory wildlife biologist for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and co-author of the study.
Why is this concerning?
The unprecedented die-off of Common Murres is a major warning sign about the accelerating impacts of climate change. Marine heat waves are happening more often and getting worse, threatening entire species and disrupting marine ecosystems.
When the oceans heat up like this, it not only kills off food sources, but it also makes it harder for wildlife to bounce back. Ten years later, Alaska's murre population is still struggling, which signals deeper, potentially irreversible shifts in ocean health — affecting everything from fish stocks to the coastal communities that depend on them.
|
Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Definitely 👍 The fact that the murres haven't recovered, even after all this time, Parrish called a "double shocker,"
TCD Picks » Upway Spotlight
💡Upway makes it easy to find discounts of up to 60% on premium e-bike brands
What can be done to help seabirds?
Addressing the root cause — climate change — is crucial to preventing further mass die-offs. Supporting policies that cut carbon pollution and boost clean energy can help slow down ocean warming. Conservation efforts like seabird monitoring and restoration projects are vital to tracking these changes and finding solutions.
On a local level, protecting marine habitats and establishing no-fishing zones can give seabird populations a better chance to recover. Everyday actions like reducing plastic use and supporting sustainable seafood choices can also make a difference.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
