Seabird Deaths Along Florida’s East Coast Appear Migration-related
Researchers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have received reports of more than 150 dead or distressed greater shearwaters, gull-like birds, along Florida’s east coast in Brevard, Indian River, St. Johns and Volusia counties this week. After examining some of the birds, researchers believe these deaths are related to stress from the species’ long, trans-Atlantic migration.
Greater shearwaters migrate from their primary breeding grounds in Tristan da Cunha, a group of islands off the southwest coast of Africa, across the Atlantic to Canada, according to the Peterson Field Guide for Eastern Birds.
“This long migration, coupled with storms and high winds, can take its toll on some immature and older shearwaters, sapping their strength and making it difficult to feed,” said Dan Wolf, an FWC research biologist. “Upon examination of some of the dead greater shearwaters this week, we found the birds were young and emaciated, consistent with normal migration mortality.”
Migration-related deaths of greater shearwaters occur every year around this time, though the number varies. In 2007, researchers received reports of about 1,000 dead shearwaters during the migratory season.
Since Monday, citizens and wildlife rehabilitators from Vero Beach north to Ponte Vedra have reported finding these dead birds in areas along the shoreline. Because greater shearwaters live most of their lives on the open sea, the deaths are only seen alongshore when winds are blowing inshore.
The public can report dead birds to the FWC online at MyFWC.com/Bird. Anyone who encounters a dead or distressed bird is asked not to handle it. For assistance with sick or injured birds, citizens should contact a local wildlife rehabilitative facility.
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission came into existence on July 1, 1999 - the result of a constitutional amendment approved in the 1998 General Election as part of the package proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission.
In the implementation of the Constitutional Amendment, the Florida Legislature combined all of the staff and Commissioners of the former Marine Fisheries Commission, elements of the Divisions of Marine Resources and Law Enforcement of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and all of the employees and Commissioners of the former Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Five years later, after consulting stakeholders, employees and other interested parties, the FWC adopted a new internal structure to address complex conservation issues of the new century. The new structure focuses on programs, such as habitat management, that affect numerous species. It will focus on moving the decision-making process closer to the public and did not require any additional funding or additional positions.
