BeringWatch, COASST, the Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have teamed up to work with coastal communities to track seabird die-offs in Alaska. Die-off Alert (DoA) is a way for community members of coastal Alaska to gather, record and share information on seabird die-offs as they happen. If you are interested in receiving our quarterly newsletter with updates about these events, sign up here.
Why Die-off Alert?
In Alaska, coastal communities are witnessing a changing marine environment, including rising ocean temperatures, shifting fisheries, and increases in disease and toxic algal blooms. Seabirds – occurring in Alaska by the millions – feel these pressures as well. Since 2015, residents across the state have witnessed an unprecedented number, duration and geographic extent of seabird die-offs.
DoA Surveys
DoA surveyors send in when a die-off event is taking place. Here’s how it works.
- Get trained by contacting COASST.
- COASST will send out an alert if we hear of an ongoing die-off.
- Conduct a survey on your local beach when a die-off event begins.
- Send observations to coasst@uw.edu or 206-221-6893.
- COASST reviews photos to determine numbers and species. All information is returned to the affected communities.
Goals of DoA
Die-off Alert bears witness to the changes in coastal Alaska. Observations collectively reveal the species, quantity, geography, and timing of seabird die-offs. We are committed to making the data and analyses available to communities so that locally-collected information can be used in decision-making and resource management.
If a die-off event hits your coastline, participants are ready to survey beaches, find carcasses, take photographs and document the location.
Who are we?
AMBCC
AMBCC
The Alaska Migratory Bird Co-Management Council exists to conserve migratory birds through development of recommendations for harvests in Alaska and consists of representatives from Alaska’s Native population, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the USFWS.
BeringWatch
BeringWatch
BeringWatch is a community based ecological monitoring program that enables local community members to collect reliable environmental data in order to support and inform decisions that affect the region.
