Ocean Sentry
Wildlife officials say hundreds of dead sea birds are washing up on beaches from Marin to Monterey, and suspect a problem with their food supply may be to blame. Hundreds of Brandt”s cormorants began washing up on beaches in mid-April, surprising sea bird experts who had seen the bird”s population grow in recent years.
A few dozen of the emaciated birds collected have survived, and are being fed at the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Cordelia.
State and federal wildlife officials are asking people not to move the dead birds so that volunteers can mark them for a valid count.
Sea bird experts say a decline in anchovy numbers measured in 2008 could be a factor.
(From sfgate.com, Associated Press)
