Sea gulls on the beach not moving

Observation by Lillian Olanna:

One month ago I came across two small seagulls on the beach not moving and just laying there like they were sick. They never flew away when I almost ran both over with my ATV. I unfortunately have not taken any pictures of the small sea gulls. My grandparents said they are called "kittiwakes." The approximate dates are within the week of August 4-8th 2024. I don't remember the first time I came across seeing the first sick looking "kittiwake" but it was a few days before I saw the second one which was the evening of August 8, 2024. My grandpa told me he saw some dead kittiwakes along the beach also, unsure of the dates. They camp east of Brevig along the spit towards Teller.

LEO Says:

Thank you Lillian for sharing your observation. See the side links for details on red and black legged kittiwakes. Both are found in Alaska with the black legged more common. LEO Network advises members to report events related to die-offs and bird illness to regional responders and co-managment regional representatives. Please note that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or bird flu is also still active in Alaska. Please see the attached advisory with related healthy, safety and reporting information.

Consult by Gay Sheffield:

Two Chukotkan news outlets put forth stories (~first week of August) that several coastal communities in the Strait (Russian side) were experiencing a seabird die-off (see the articles on side bar). These have been provided to the USFWS Migratory Bird Office + USGS for dissemination to their co-management partners and their other constituents including being shared with the Kawerak, Inc. Subsistence Program Director. The region has experienced an uptick of dead stranded seabirds (shearwaters / kittiwakes primarily) during that time - most of which were in poor physical condition - and all of which were notified to Kawerak and the proper federal co-management entities.