Large numbers of dead and dying birds have been washing up on local beaches lately. The Cassin’s auklets, which normally live in the distant open Pacific Ocean, are rarely spotted in offshore waters. Scientists believe that the higher-than-normal ocean temperatures mean there are less zooplankton for the young auklets to eat, and that’s why they are in poor condition. Seabirds, such as these auklets, are an indicator species of the overall health of our offshore marine ecosystem.
