A "Wreck" of Seabirds

A Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) carcass lies on the beach of Hallo Bay. Since the massive die-off of Common Murres in the Gulf of Alaska during 2015-2016, coastal communities across Alaska have annually reported dead and dying seabirds on their beaches. Seabird die-offs (also known as a "wreck") are not uncommon in Alaska and are most frequently associated with strong El Niño events. These warming event cause shifts in forage fish and zooplankton communities, therefore leading to seabird starvation.