Hundreds
of dead and dying fulmars, ocean-going seabirds seldom seen
from shore, have been found beached on California’s
shoreline from Northern to Southern California. Survivors
are being rushed to intensive care at International Bird
Rescue Research Center (IBRRC). Necropsies done on five of
the dead birds revealed they were juveniles that had starved
to death.
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Beached Fulmar along
Monterey, CA beach. More
photos. (Photo: Karen
Benzel)
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Northern Fulmars are
pelagic seabirds, similar in size to seagulls that belong
to the order Procellariiformes, which includes albatross.
They breed in colonies, on remote islands as far north as the
Canadian Arctic and migrate to the Pacific Ocean as far south
as Baja California to feed on fish, squid, and shrimp. Researcher
s are not concerned that the species is in trouble as fulmars
are one of the world’s most numerous seabirds. Die-offs
of young birds are not uncommon during years of high production.
Lifeguards began finding the birds on Southern
California beaches October 15 and on October 31 over 300
were found dead and dying
on Monterey Bay beaches. Wildlife rescuers combed Monterey
beaches trying to find as many live birds as possible, and
rushed them
to IBRRC’s center in Cordelia where they went into intensive
care. Some of the birds were too emaciated to be saved, but
the fulmars with good blood work, have been recovering in the
center’s large pools where they are fed all the fish
they can eat. “We want to fatten them up and get them
back out to sea as soon as possible,” said Michelle Bellizzi,
Rehabilitation Manager.
Lana Emo, rehabilitation manager at IBRRC’s
center in San Pedro said the fulmars they have been caring
for are almost
ready for release. “We’re still getting them in,
but not in large numbers.”She observed, “We’re
finding fulmars are not particularly aggressive towards people,
but they are very aggressive towards each other, and we started
to run out of pools.”
The center is asking for the public’s help. Anyone finding
fulmars in distress should not leave them on beaches or try
and put them back in the water. Throw a towel or jacket over
the bird, put it in a box or container with air holes and take
it to the nearest animal shelter or wildlife rehabilitation
center.
IBRRC manages two wildlife rehabilitation centers in California
as part of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network and has specialized
in the rehabilitation of waterfowl and aquatic birds since
1971. The number for IBRRC in Northern California is 707-207-0380
ext. 110. In southern California the number is 310-514-2573
or 74. More information and directions to the centers can be
found on their website at www.ibrrc.org. Donations to help
pay for the cost of caring for the birds may be sent to Fulmar
Fund, IBRRC, 4369 Cordelia Road, Cordelia, CA 94534.
Media contact:
Karen Benzel
Office: (831) 622-7588
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Abstract
on Fulmars
IBRRC paper on these
plentiful open ocean birds
Photos
of rescue
Stranded birds on Monterey, CA beaches
Birds
in focus
More information on Northern Fulmars |
