Here you’ll find current and past news stories involving COASST, as well as Science Updates, Fact Sheets about seabird die-offs, and videos highlighting our work.
Breaking News
Looking for something from a few months back? Check out our Archived News below!
Citizen Science
Salish Magazine January 31, 2020
Huge ‘hot blob’ in Pacific Ocean killed nearly a million seabirds
The Guardian January 16, 2020
Unusually Warm Sea Waters Blamed For Seabird Deaths
National Parks Traveler January 15, 2020
Scientists were stumped when seabirds started dying. Now they have answers
LA Times January 15, 2020
Study: Marine Heatwave Likely The Cause Of Massive Die-off Of North Coast Seabirds
OPB January 15, 2020
‘The blob,’ food supply squeeze to blame for largest seabird die-off
UW News January 15, 2020
The ‘Blob,’ a massive marine heat wave, led to an unprecedented seabird die-off
Science News January 15, 2020
Dead Birds Washing Up by the Thousands Send a Warning About Climate Change
Inside Climate News January 15, 2020
Seabirds are cool
Salish Magazine January 8, 2020
Archived News
Chronological list of news stories that feature COASST publications and participants
2019
Tracking the trash: Inside a marine debris survey
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound October 18, 2019
Thousands of Dead Seabirds Washed Up on Alaska’s Shores Again This Year
Audubon October 14, 2019
As Seabird Die-Offs Continue, Unalaskans Train To Track Local Mortalities
KUCB October 10, 2019
Something’s wrong in the Bering Sea
University of Washington Magazine September 18, 2019
Citizen Science Podcast – Episode 7
SciStarter August 25, 2019
Conservation Report: Tufted Puffin
BBC Wildlife Magazine August 1, 2019
Planet Puffin Ep5: Rough Seas and a Wreck
BBC Radio June 4, 2019
Puffin Interview with Julia Parrish
CTV News May 31, 2019
Climate change is causing mass ‘die-offs’ in seabirds such as puffins
The Conversation May 29, 2019
Climate crisis may be a factor in tufted puffins die-off, study says
The Guardian May 29, 2019
Mass Die-off of Puffins Raises More Fears About Arctic’s Warming Climate
Inside Climate News May 29, 2019
Puffins are dying in large numbers in the Bering Sea
Mashable May 29, 2019
Thousands of seabirds starved to death in the Bering Sea – and scientists see evidence of climate change
Washington Post May 29, 2019
Tufted puffin the Arctic’s Latest Victim of Climate Change
Courthouse News Service May 29, 2019
Why hundreds of Puffins Washed Up Dead on an Alaskan Beach
The Atlantic May 29, 2019
Dead Common Murres found along most of Mendocino County’s coastline
Fort Bragg Advocate-News May 25, 2019
Major die-off of Common Murres under way along the Mendocino Coast
Fort Bragg Advocate-News May 25, 2019
Science in this Century Needs People
EoS April 22, 2019
Seabirds and Mammals in an Ice-Free Alaska with Donna Hauser, Timothy Jones, Darren Pilcher
Connecting Alaska: Nature and Environment: Episode 56. January 29, 2019
2018
How to participate in science without a fancy degree
The Daily December 6, 2018
In Alaska, Starving Seabirds and Empty Colonies Signal a Broken Ecosystem
Audubon September 11, 2018
Nights in the lives of the rhinoceros auklets of Protection Island
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound August 24, 2018
Alaska seabird deaths continue trend tied to warming ocean
The Seattle Times August 11, 2018
What caused 2014’s bird die-off on the Pacific coast? Scientists blame the Blob
Geek Wire June 5, 2018
The Blob,’ a marine heat wave, caused massive die-off of West Coast birds
The Seattle Times June 2, 2018
Citizen science programs integral to supporting coastal research
The Daily Astorian March 5, 2018
Citizen science sees results
The Daily February 12, 2018
2017
Citizen Scientists Study Seabirds
IIPR December 6, 2017
Dead Reckoning: Guardians of the Dead
Lost Coast Outpost November 23, 2017
Volunteers track dead birds as indicator of coast’s health
Associated Press November 8, 2017
For third year in a row, Alaska seabirds wash up dead
Alaska Public Media September 13, 2017
Hundreds of dead birds found on Bering Sea shores
Alaska Dispatch News September 11, 2017
A Citizen Effort to Document and Collect Alaska Bird Carcasses
We Alaskans May 7, 2017
Drawing Meaning from Death, One Seabird at a Time
Hakai Magazine May 2, 2017
2016
Puffin Die-Off On St. Paul Island May Point to Larger Ecosystem Problems
KUCB December 7, 2016
Hundreds Of Tufted Puffin Deaths Suggest Dangers of Warming Seas
Audubon November 23, 2016
From Coast to COASST
The Daily of the University of Washington November 21, 2016
Hundreds Of Dead Puffins Are Mysteriously Washing Ashore in Alaska
Huffington Post November 18, 2016
Large Puffin Die-Off Seems Linked to Warm Conditions
Homer Tribune November 17, 2016
Large Die-Off of Tufted Puffins in Pribilof Islands Seems Linked to Unusual Warm Spell
Alaska Dispatch News November 14, 2016
We’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’: Hundreds of Dead Puffins Wash Ashore in the North Pacific
EcoWatch November 10, 2016
Puffins Are Starving to Death in Incredible Numbers
Newser November 9, 2016
Huge Puffin Die-Off May Be Linked to Hotter Seas
National Geographic November 8, 2016
‘The Blob’: How Marine Heatwaves are Causing Unprecedented Climate Chaos
The Guardian August 14, 2016
The Blob That Cooked the Pacific
National Geographic August 9, 2016
Following seabird die-off, citizen science project expands in Alaska
KHNS June 15, 2016
Citizen Science Can Help Manage Marine Treasures
Cascadia Weekly June 1, 2016
Massive Bird Die-Off Puzzles Alaskan Scientists
LiveScience February 1, 2016
Seward volunteers tracking dead murre numbers in Alaska’s Resurrection Bay
KTVA Alaska January 14, 2016
Dead murres pile up on beach
Homer News January 7, 2016
2015
Murre Die-off around Kachemak Bay in Thousands
KBBI December 22, 2015
The Blob is no laughing matter for marine life, birds
Chinook Observer December 2, 2015
Seabird deaths, warm oceans, algal blooms puzzle scientists
Homer News August 27, 2015
Scientists searching for answers in bird die-off
Cannon Beach Gazette August 26, 2015
Sea change: Here’s what’s wrong in the Pacific Ocean
The Oregonian July 31, 2015
The Ecology Hour
KZYX Mendocino County Public Broadcasting June 23, 2015
Volunteer along the seaside with UW’s COASST program
The Whole U April 24, 2015
Pacific Seabirds Dying in Record Numbers
CCTV America March 29, 2015
From sea lions to penguin chicks adorable animals are dying in droves
Grist March 20, 2015
Warming West Coast Waters Upset Food Chains
Science Friday March 20, 2015
Mass seabird deaths on Pacific coast of North America
Birdwatch February 5, 2015
Unprecedented wreck of Cassin’s Auklets along US Pacific Coast
BirdGuides February 5, 2015
Pacific Seabird Die-Off Highlights Fragility of Ocean Food Web
The Pew Charitable Trusts January 30, 2015
Mass Death of Seabirds in Western U.S. is ‘Unprecedented’
National Geographic News January 23, 2015
Researchers Wait for Answers Amid Mysterious Mass Seabrd Die-Off in Region
Peninsula Daily News January 12, 2015
Dead Birds Washing Ashore By The Thousands on Pacific Coast Baffle Scientists
The Weather Channel January 11, 2015
Biologists mystified by seabird die-off on West Coast
CBC News As it Happens January 6, 2015
Cassin’s Auklets found washed up along B.C. coast
CBC News Daybreak North January 6, 2015
Cassin’s Auklets found washed up near Tofino
CBC News January 6, 2015
Oregon coast seabird deaths could continue through winter, wildlife official says
The Oregonian January 6, 2015
Small seabirds washing up dead on Northwest beaches
Oregon Public Broadcasting January 5, 2015
Pacific Coast Sea Bird Die-Off Puzzles Scientists
New York Times January 3, 2015
Bird carcasses along Pacific shore baffle biologists?
Los Angeles Times January 2, 2015
Why is the beach covered in dead birds?
Statesman Journal January 2, 2015
2014
COASST volunteers help collect data on dead birds to help others live
HeraldNet November 30, 2014
Citizen science key to keeping pace with environmental change
UW Today October 11, 2014
Citizen Science Aims to Clean Up Pacific Plastics
LiveScience July 28, 2014
The importance of counting dead birds
Forks Forum June 12, 2014
2013
A Model of Scientific Rigor(mortis)
OnEarth August 14, 2013
COASST Volunteers Track Birds
Forks Forum July 18, 2013
2012
Beached bird program makes everyone a scientist
UW Daily November 20, 2012
Non-scientists Collect Key Conservation Information About Seabirds
LiveScience October 19, 2012
The current state of citizen science as a tool for ecological research and public engagement”
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment August 1, 2012
Beached Birding: Volunteers help scientists collect data on shoreline carcasses
The Daily News Online July 26, 2012
Earth Day: Six ways to help scientists in your own back yard
Photo Gallery, The Washington Post April 20, 2012
Novel Answer to That Perennial ‘Earth Day’ Question: ‘What Can I Do to Help?’
National Science Foundation April 19, 2012
2011
Peninsula Woman: Educator learns as she teaches volunteers about marine life, by Janet Lamont
Peninsula Daily News March 27, 2011
Sink to Sound: Scientists use the public to study and protect the environment
Columns, The University of Washington Alumni Magazine, March 9, 2011
2010
Natural Causes Reason for Dying Birds
Siuslaw News Online November 9, 2010
Redefining the term ‘Hip to be Square’…Introducing Dr. Julia Parrish
Interview with Dr. Carn Bondar June 28, 2010
*A letter from COASST Executive Director Julia Parrish about the Deep Water Horizon spill
June 22, 2010
The value of Dead Bird Watching
Miller-McCune, Pacific Standard June 15, 2010
2009
The Wreck: Scientists seek clues in seabird die-offs
High Country News December 7, 2009
Trying to crack an ocean mystery: What caused killer algal blooms?
Seattle Times November 29, 2009
Algae bloom killing seabirds mystifies researchers
Seattle Times October 30, 2009
Killer foam: Was it a freak event or a warning?
The Oregonian October 28, 2009
Foam from ocean algae killing thousands of birds
The Oregonian October 22, 2009
2008
Keeping an Eye on the Coast
The World (Coos Bay, OR) November 22, 2008
Seabird Signals
National Wildlife Federation August 1, 2008
2007
Struggling Seabirds
San Francisco Chronicle April 3, 2007
2006
For the Birds
The News Guard (Lincoln City, OR) November 29, 2006
Coast Walkers
Homer News September 28, 2006
Bird Die-Off Puzzles Scientists
News-Times (Newport, OR) March 24, 2006
Dying By the Scores: Seabirds Washing Ashore on Oregon Beaches
Seattle Times March 21, 2006
2005
Still Looking
Pacific Northwest (Seattle Times magazine) September 4, 2005
Oceanic Oddity Over; Concerns Linger
Seattle Times August 22, 2005
Pacific Coast Life Concerns Scientists
Associated Press August 1, 2005
Warmed Oceans May Be Killing West Coast Marine Life
Seattle Times July 13, 2005
Clue No. 1: It’s Dead
Oregonian March 23, 2005
2003
Telltale Signs
Peninsula Daily News June 8, 2003
2001
Murre-Maid of Tatoosh
Seattle Post-Intelligencer September 11, 2001
Science Updates
These are special publications highlighting recent research and peer-reviewed scientific papers.
COASST Fact Sheets
Access the latest information about ongoing or past seabird die-offs here.
2019 Alaska Seabird Die-off Fact Sheet
COASST February 3, 2020
Northern California Common Mortality Fact Sheet
COASST June 13, 2019
Archived Updates
Fact sheets from previous die-off events
2018
Alaska Seabird Die Off Update
COASST August 8, 2018
2017
Common Murre Mortality Fact Sheet
COASST December 21, 2017
Bering Sea Seabird Die Off Update
COASST, USFWS December 20, 2017
2016
Mass Mortality of Tufted Puffins
COASST November 4, 2016
Rhinoceros Auklet Salish Sea Unusual Mortality Event
COASST August 9, 2016
2015
Cassins Auklet North Pacific Winter Wreck
COASST January 22, 2015
Murres on the Beach in 2015
COASST January 20, 2015