Mass bird death event in Seattle attributed to record heat Monday
State wildlife officials said it appears dozens of juvenile terns fled the heat by jumping from an industrial roof, injuring and killing many.
Author: Michael Crowe
Published: 7:49 PM PDT June 29, 2021
Updated: 2:34 PM PDT June 30, 2021
SEATTLE — State wildlife officials are monitoring a colony of Caspian Terns on an industrial building in Seattle after extreme heat appears to have prompted the death of dozens of the seabirds.
Investigators with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) believe Monday’s record temperatures, when Seattle hit 108 degrees, led dozens of juvenile terns to flee rooftop nests for cooler shelter. But since the young birds can’t fly yet, they plunged to the pavement below, risking injury or death.
Conservation scientist Kersti Muul, who works with the Seattle Audubon Society, was called to assist when the mass mortality event was spotted Monday evening.
“They were stuck on the ground, the asphalt was burning them,” she said...
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