Common murre (Uria aalge) in Anchorage

Observation: Late evening on Sunday, January 3rd I was walking in Midtown Anchorage when I found a dying murre laying in the turning lane at the intersection of A Street and Northern Lights Blvd. I removed the murre from the road so it would not get run over by a car and noticed it was still breathing. It was taking quick shallow breathes and was bleeding in one eye. I carried it back to my home and, following the instructions from Bird TLC, placed it in a box and took it to the pet emergency center. When I dropped it off it I had noticed blood coming from its mouth and was unsure if it was still alive.

LEO says: Thanks you Christy for your post and for going the extra mile to help out. Hundreds of stranded and in some cases dead and dying murres have been reported in past weeks, in some cases far outside of their normal range. Murres have had a tough year due likely to the Blob effect of warm water and (potentially) displacement of food resources. Many murres have been reported that are sick or starving. To make matters worse, the recent series of hurricane force storms have scattered weakened murres across Southcentral Alaska. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with COASST and LEO Network to monitor bird reports. People can also report their observations to their hotline: MBM Sick and Dying Bird Hotline, 1-866-527-3358

Note: For murres found alive in the Anchorage area, there is a rescue operation on-going that Christy mentioned. The Bird Treatment and Learning Center (Bird TLC) rehabilitates all wild birds, from the largest bald eagle to the smallest common redpoll. If you come across an injured or sick bird, you can call them at 907-562-4852, or bring the bird in to their clinic at 7800 King Street in Anchorage.

Media: 2016-01-04 - see article, 'Wildlife rescuers overwhelmed with starving sea birds' Alaska Public Media - The Associated Press

2016-01-05 - see article, 'Massive seabird die-off lines Whittier beaches with carcasses' Alaska Dispatch News - Zaz Hollander