Seabird die-off puzzles scientists - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2015-01-13

Document text

0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Woman reportedly beat girlfriend with police baton Central Point police say drunken driver hit house Build with Legos at Phoenix library Ashland Fire & Rescue donates fire engine to sister city Mt. Ashland Ski Area remains closed Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Woman reportedly beat girlfriend with police baton Central Point police say drunken driver hit house Emergency Services Emergency services One killed Friday in single-vehicle crash in Rogue River Politics and Elections Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Education Design and innovation program proposed at Talent Middle School College on the K-12 dime Students forge links between forest health and people Medford School Board meeting deferred because of Ducks game Medford bulks up student support for math, reading Environment OR-7 now officially the leader of his pack Ashland trails up for changes Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock State News Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Oregon State University plans $60 million forestry complex Washington man arrested in Portland hotel slaying Timber group updates green label forestry standards Attorney: Use Boy Scout files in sex-abuse trial Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Ricardo Ruiz-Santillan Richard Thompson LuErna Mae Jacobson Robert Charles Pollock Bob Lozano Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? Sports Latest Stories Orange Alert Lillard heats up in Blazer victory Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle No. 11 Oregon State drubs Oregon again Walker, Matsuyama tied for Kapalua lead Varsity 541 College Sports Orange Alert No. 11 Oregon State drubs Oregon again N.C. State hands No. 2 Duke first loss Will players show wear and tear? UO’s resilient receivers stay ready Pro Sports Lillard heats up in Blazer victory Randolph, Grizz win 2OT battle Walker, Matsuyama tied for Kapalua lead Luck leads Colts to upset of Manning, Broncos Packers shake Cowboys, to play for NFC title Community Sports Business Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: The cars of the year Business briefs People in Business Blog: Former Meier & Frank stores avoid Macy's hit list Ride & Drive: 2015 Chevrolet Trax Real Estate News Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers People In Business Transportation Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Opinion Latest Jan. 12 Letters to the Editor Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Another View: A few questions to make the AG nominee squirm Another view: Politicians retreat from racism Editorials Our View: A pipeline should not run through it Other Views: ACLU leader helped change Oregon Our View: It's best to prepare for the worst Our View: Falls has work to do to restore trust Our View: WISE project offers many benefits Letters to the Editor Jan. 12 Letters to the Editor Jan. 11 Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 9 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 8 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 7 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: FERC fails our planet Guest Opinion: East is east and west is west Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Guest Opinion: Say yes to clean energy jobs, no to the LNG project Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Lifestyle Latest stories Kitchen Call: Roasted pork, Tuscan style Book Notes: Essays on aging, from an aging poet Community blog: Braised greens and potatoes epitomize season Get A Life: The helping hand of humor It Is What It Is: There’s more to rejection than meets the eye Food Kitchen Call: Roasted pork, Tuscan style Community blog: Braised greens and potatoes epitomize season Community blog: Happy New Beer Year! Community blog: Scanty spuds stretch winter greens into salad Entertaining with a gift of treasure Home and Garden Home Help: Heighten your home’s style this year 11 reasons why we love wrought iron fencing Dear Monty: Eight great tips to ponder before investing in real estate Home Help: Timeless or trendy? Achieve both in your home decor this year Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Health Community blog: Dont Let Fear Run Your Life Dr. Murray Feingold: Separation anxiety common in adults Health Watch: Staying fit as a frequent flyer Community blog: Tale of the Tape Community blog: We Don't Have To Conspire Against Good Health Hiking Biking Faith Old stained-glass windows face threats Churches start new year with messages of hope (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Since You Asked: Sheriff's Office sells off foreclosed homes Mt. Ashland Ski Area shut down again by lack of snow Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Live Music in Local Clubs Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight 100 Watt Mind unveils 'Creatures' American Guitar Masters play the Imperial Theater Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Tangled up in Dylan OSF's 'Great Society' up for Kennedy Prize Next Stage presents a tribute to an iconic folk artist Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer Music Live Music in Local Clubs 100 Watt Mind unveils 'Creatures' American Guitar Masters play the Imperial Chamber Music Concerts presents Tesla Quartet Blues jam tonight at Little Brown Jug Community Events Art Presence showcases 'Naked Art' New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dining Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Entertaining with a gift of treasure Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW   Woman reportedly beat girlfriend with police baton       ...       Mt. Ashland Ski Area remains closed       ...       Seeing is believing       ...       Woman reportedly beat girlfriend with police baton       ...       Mt. Ashland Ski Area remains closed       ...       Seeing is believing       ...           WEST COAST Seabird die-off puzzles scientists Hundreds of auklets appear to have starved to death Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 4, 2015 @ 2:00 am By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 4, 2015 @ 2:00 am »  Social News SALEM — Scientists are trying to figure out what's behind the deaths of seabirds that have been found by the hundreds along the Pacific Coast since October. Mass die-offs of the small, white-bellied gray birds known as Cassin's auklets have been reported from British Columbia to San Luis Obispo, California. It's normal for some seabirds to die during harsh winter conditions, especially during big storms, but the scale of the current die-off is unusual. "To be this lengthy and geographically widespread, I think is kind of unprecedented," Phillip Johnson, executive director of the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, told the Salem Statesman Journal. "It's an interesting and somewhat mysterious event." The birds appear to be starving to death, so experts don't believe a toxin is the culprit, said Julia Burco, a wildlife veterinarian for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. But why the birds can't find food is a mystery. Researchers say it could be the result of a successful breeding season, leading to too many young birds competing for food. Unusually violent storms might be pushing the birds into areas they're not used to or preventing them from foraging. Or a warmer, more acidic ocean could be affecting the supply of tiny zooplankton, such as krill, that the birds eat. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin is conducting additional necropsies on dead birds, researchers said. Robert Ollikainen of Tillamook, Oregon, found 132 dead birds on the beach there, including 126 Cassin's auklets on Dec. 26. "It was pretty dramatic," Ollikainen said. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 4, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments   Reader Reaction »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501