Freak weather kills thousands of seabirds

RHIANNON EDWARD


THE death of hundreds of seabirds washed up on the coast of Scotland has been blamed by bird experts on the recent freak weather that has battered Britain.


The RSPB believes the phenomenon, known as a seabird wreck, was probably caused by the severe storms and torrential rain over the last month. The society estimates that thousands of guillemots have died, mostly by drowning, but is baffled as to why no other species of auk, such as puffins, has been affected.

The deaths follow the worst breeding season on record for seabirds in Scotland, which - like the recent extreme weather - has been blamed on climate change.


"Hundreds of emaciated birds are coming ashore along the north-west coast, with reports from John O’Groats round to the Hebrides.
more
http://news.scotsman.com/inverness.cfm?id=1040322004

(note sarcasm is on)

they just leave nasty turds all over the place. And you can't even raise them on a factory farm to make corporate profits, so they are just wasting space that could be put to better use. Maybe NOW we can drill for oil there without worrying about harming the damned things!

(sarcasm off now)

The Kestrel.

--bkl

Both small fast falcons.

The American Kestrel is a beautiful little raptor. The Merlin is dreaded by all small birds that it can easily out fly and large birds often feel it's pugnacious, albeit sometimes playful, nature.

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3570id.html