What the Tide Brings In

Anyone who walks on the beach notices the flotsam and jetsam the tide brings in: seaweeds, shells, sticks and jellies are common findings, as are the less desirables, from marine debris to bird carcasses. In fact, some seasons are especially “birdy” on Oregon beaches. Beach-goers occasionally find tens, even hundreds, of carcasses per kilometer. What’s going on!?! Should we be worried? In this talk, Dr. Julia Parrish, the Executive Director of the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team, and the Lowell A. and Frankie L. Wakefield Professor of Ocean Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, tells some scary stories about how Pacific Northwest seabirds have gotten into hot water, uncovering the mystery of how a warming ocean can wreak havoc on seabird communities, and exploring who wins and who loses.