Research Technical Report

Investigation of Cassin's Auklet Mortality in the Eastern Pacific During the 2014 Post-breeding Season

Henkel, L., J. Dolliver, J. Roletto, J. Beck, B. Bodenstein, V. Bowes, D. Bradley, R. Bradley, J. Burco, C. Cumberworth, M. Flannery, J. Jahncke, S. Knowles, J. Lankton, K. Lindquist, J.K. Parrish, W. Ritchie, and L. Wilson (February 2015)

Poster presentation at Pacific Seabird Group meeting, San Jose, CA

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Beginning approximately September 2014, surveyors conducting routine beached-bird surveys recorded unusually high numbers of dead Cassin's Auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) on beaches from British Columbia through central California. Unusual numbers of dead and debilitated auklets on some beaches, and observations of dead auklets floating at-sea off the California coast also prompted numerous inquiries from the public, and generated increasing media attention. Our OBJECTIVES were to compile available information to document the event, and attempt to investigate potential causes. To achieve these objectives, we quickly assembled a working group of experts from a wide variety of government agencies and NGOs (see contributors below)