Hundreds of birds found dead on island beaches (Galveston)

[Donna]

GALVESTON — Hundreds of dead migratory birds, many of them colorful songbirds, are washing up on Galveston beaches, victims of a strong north wind and the perils of migration.

As many as 500 bodies were counted by sea turtle patrollers along a 10-mile stretch of beach last week. Along a smaller stretch, Mary Jan Lantz and Dawn Uyehara counted 96 dead birds on a half-hour walk that covered the equivalent of 14 blocks.

“It was insane,� said Lantz, director of human resources and risk management at Galveston College. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.�

The bodies are a sad sight, but a natural occurrence, said Jim Stevenson, director of the Galveston Ornithological Society and a professional bird guide.

“What you’re basically seeing out there is natural selection,� he said. “These birds are just the most weak of each species, and they’re not making it across the Gulf.�

The birds, some sporting the bright yellow and black plumage of orioles, or the red and black of tanagers, may start out in the Yucatán, South America or the West Indies.

They fly north, headed for Canada or the United States, but encountered stiff north winds and inclement weather this year.

“They run into rain and north wind, and they perish out over the Gulf,� said Stevenson. “Then they eventually reach our shores.�

The body count is higher this year because of the weather and wind direction.

This weekend’s weather system probably will produce more kills, he said, then the numbers will decline by next weekend.

“You have to understand, every day, tens of millions of songbirds pass over the Gulf coast. What we’re seeing here is an incredibly tiny percentage of the total birds coming over.�

Lantz was relieved to hear the bird kill had a natural cause. She walks with Uyehara, a Galveston College employment specialist, three times a week as part of the college wellness program, often along the beach.

“It’s good to know it has to do with the weather and doesn’t have to do with anything environmentally terribly wrong,� she said. “With that oil slick so much on our minds, and news about them burning all that oil, it’s good to know we don’t have something toxic coming across the bay.�

[Annette]

 

[DebInTexas]

Since we are a main migration flyway, and many birds fly across the huge Gulf to head back north, there are always losses.  This report is one of the worst in many years, that I can recall.  Jim Stevenson is one of the most knowledgeable experts around (came to TX from FL), and is always willing to share and educate.

Anxious for hatching - both Rochester & Woodmen!

Debbie in Texas