Researchers have found at least 100 dead or sick sea ducks on two West End beaches since Friday, likely due to a bloom of toxic algae in the coastal waters.
The bird kill appears to be mostly afflicting two specific breeds of sea ducks — the white-winged scoter and the surf scoter — that eat shellfish, The Seattle Times reported today at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009860574_seabirds14m.html .
The kill appears to have hit only the Kalaloch and LaPush beaches, said Julia Parrish, executive director of Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST), a citizen science project from the University of Washington.
Barb Maynes, spokeswoman for Olympic National Park, said at least 60 dead sea birds were found at Second Beach near LaPush. She cautioned beachcombers to stay away from dead sea birds, but said none of the park’s beaches was closed.
