A posting to Birding-Aus from the seabird listserver out of South Africa.
David Duffy is co-ordinating the collection and dissemination of
ENSO-related observations from around the world. If there is sufficient
interest, I will continue to post these twice-monthly updates to
Birding-Aus.
All best
Eric
>Date: Wed, 3 Sep 1997 00:28:43 +0200
>
>*********ENSO 97-98: CURRENT REPORTS ON EVENTS**************
>
>Report 1
>2 September 1997
>
>This electronic mailing is intended to provide near real-time reports
>primarily on marine and terrestrial events that may be linked to the
>development of the 1997 El Ni=F1o/Southern Oscillation which appears to be
>unfolding as one of the most severe ENSO events in history. Emphasis is on
>seabirds and changes to marine ecosystems, but we appreciate other reports
>that may expand our understanding of effects. These might include rainfall,
>flooding, or associated disease outbreaks. We will try to be inclusive and
>let hindsight separate ENSO from other events. Reports will be issued at
>the begging and middle of each month.
>
>Caveat:
>The scientific community was not aware of the last big ENSO event in 1982
>until it was well underway. This one was forecast in January 1997, so we
>are watching it develop from a far earlier stage than has been previously
>possible. Some of the reports may report events that will in retrospect
>turn out to be coincidence, having nothing to do with ENSO at all. Others
>may be previously unrecognized precursors.
> The reports are often second hand or casual, edited out of other
>messages. Please check with the original author before using the data.
>
>Participation:
>Please send additional reports, corrections, or comments to:
>David C. Duffy
>Alaska Natural Heritage Program
>University of Alaska Anchorage
>Tel 907-257-2784
>=46ax 907-257-2789
>Email
>***************************************************************
>
>REPORTS FROM CONTRIBUTORS
>
>30 JULY: PERU
>As you are aware rains and floods have been catastrophic in China, Europe,
>USA, Brazil, Chile, etc. Here in Peru, at the end of July, I am still in
>short sleeve shirt and except for social affairs have not worn a coat
>(August is normally our coldest month). Sunday and Monday were practically
>full summer days. On Monday I went to Lunahuana (42 km inland from
>Canete) and along the coast there were people on the beaches camping and
>swimming. Not even in the last "El Nino" (1982-1983) did we experienced
>such hot weather. In northern Peru (Tumbes, Piura,Lambayeque), authorities
>are taking full precautions to minimize flood damage, by cleaning river
>beds, culverts, constructing containing walls, etc. It is expected that
>"El Nino" should start manifesting itself sometime in September.
> It is to early to determine how seabirds are being affected.
>However, warm water fish have migrated south along the coast and the
>anchovy has likewise moved south and probably down searching for cold
>waters. The government has declared a ban on anchovy fishing, but not the
>Chileans.
> In the Andes from Ancash to Puno temperatures are the lowest in
>decades.So much so, that extreme drought is expected. Practically nothing
>has been published on what to expect in the Amazon basin. Those of you
>that may have access to satellite photos of the Pacific, conditions look
>bad
>for the future, but nobody has a crystal ball. I only hope that
>temperatures next summer (January/March) will not go above 32 degrees C. in
>Lima. This morning on TV it was reported 42 C somewhere in Argentina.
><>
>
>6 AUGUST: USA ALASKA
>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Press Release:
>Large Numbers of Seabirds Wash Ashore: Biologists Scramble to Solve
>Mysterious Die-Off
>
>In two mysterious die-offs, birds continue to wash ashore along the Alaska
>Peninsula and on St. Lawrence Island. Murres and puffins have been found
>between Gambell and Savoonga and St. Lawrence Island. Dead kittiwakes,
>bald eagles and other species have been reported from Chignik to False
>Pass.
> According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, Vivian
>Mendenhall, specimens are being collected from both areas for autopsy,
>which should help biologists determine the reasons for the die-off. She
>also says that die-offs from different locations and involving different
>kinds of birds may have different causes.
> Mendenhall says that they have not yet determined the cause of this
>die-off. Temporary die-offs in the past have often been due to lack of food
>or when ocean conditions are unusual. "However, it is important to
>investigate any unusual mortality and check out all possible causes," she
>said.
> In the meantime, biologists are considering the effect warmer
>temperatures could be having, since this year southwestern Alaska
>experienced an unusually early spring. The Bering Sea and the Gulf of
>Alaska are several degrees above normal temperatures this year, which
>biologists say affects the marine ecosystem, including birds. "Unusual
>water conditions can change the birds' food
>supply," Mendenhall said.
> In May of this year, large numbers of murres died in the area of
>Etolin Strait, off northeastern Nunivak Island.
> "Seabird die-offs are not uncommon," Mendenhall said. "They have been
>observed every decade or two in northern countries." According to
>Mendenhall, seabird die-offs studied so far have not affected populations
>significantly.
> "We plan to combine local information and our studies of specimens to
>explain what's causing our birds to die this time. We especially need help
>with counting the birds," Mendenhall said.
>
>Mendenhall says that anyone with information should contact her at the U.S.
>=46ish and Wildlife Service in
>Anchorage at (907)786-3517, or biologist Karen Laing at (907)786-3459.
>
>11 AUGUST: USA ALASKA
>Virginia Aleck from Chignik Lake called yesterday to mention the large
>numbers of dead birds they are seeing on the Alaska Peninsula coast in the
>areas of Chignik Lake and also Perryville. She specifically mentioned
>finding shearwaters, "whale birds" (fulmars, right?), murres, and gulls.
>She also mentioned bald eagles and a poor return of salmon to the
>Kametolook River. (Stan Senner)
>
>11 AUGUST: USA ALASKA
>A few 'floaters' were noted including one dead Baird's Beaked Whale (very
>old male), and seven dead Walrus. The Walrus carcasses were initially
>throught attibutable to probable natural mortality given the relative close
>proximity (60-100nm) to the huge Round Island rookery in northern Bristol
>Bay. However, now in light of concern regarding dead seabirds and current
>very warm waters in the Bering Sea this summer makes me reconsider that
>something more sinister may be going on; the current El Nino a contributing
>suspect. Casually stumbling across 7 dead walrus in just a few days seems
>like quite a few and suggests that there were many more floating around out
>there. Sea
>temperatures 61F (13C) in coastal Bristol Bay?!?! 10F (~6C) above normal!
> A few dead seabirds, mostly fulmars, shearwaters, and murres were
>seen belly up, but these seemed like a natural kind of mortality with the
>encounter rate subjectively not thought to be unusal in these waters where
>seabird densities can be phenomenal.
> Incredible weather during the first half -- often flat becalmed
>mirror-like Beaufort 00 with nary a ripple from horizon to horizon in an
>extensive area of eerie and bizarre aurora-aqua green water (looked like an
>over chlorinated swimming pool) which no one can seem to explain at the
>moment,
>except that it was warmer (59F / 12.3C) and less saline than surrounding
>sea water outsidet his visually well marked and extensive zone -- maybe a
>dome of plankton soup and pack ice melt(?) ... but if so, why warmer'?
>..or run-off, but from where? -- there are no large rivers or glacial
>drainage feeding into that area to create a feature as vast as this, but it
>was in just these waters where the greatest concentrations of large whales
>and Harbor Porpoise were including the Right Whales and that unexpected
>group of
>White-sided Dolphins.
> Anyway, after analysis of water samples and a little more
>investigation, we should get it sorted out eventually. This water was so
>pale and bizarre that it reflected off the overcast, creating a feature
>reminiscent to "ice blink" of polar ice edge, but here, turning the clouds
>aqua and horizon a purple haze. With 80,000+ hours at sea over the past 25
>years, I've never seen anything like it. This was so weird with a greasy
>feel as to border on nauseating at times. Conditions were more "typical"
>Bering Sea during the second half -- always overcast, off and on foggy,
>drizzly, and a 15-20-knot wind chop.Richard Rowlett VIA
>SEABIRD
>
>13 AUGUST: SST's
>This is the address for SST anomalies on the web:
> http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/~jeh/IMAGES/SST/sst.anom.gif
>You will note that the Gulf of Alaska and the Coast of Peru are now the two
>most anomalous places on the planet in terms of hot seas. The two may not
>be related. What is a warm winter going to do to bird and fish
>overwintering survival? D. Duffy <>
>
>13 AUGUST: PERU
>During the weekend we had an unusual 'freaje' that came along the Andes,
>along the coast, and part of Amazonia. In Lima we had a temperature drop
>slightly below 20=B0 C. Lots of rain for us during three days. 40 km winds
>that created a dust storm in parts of Lima, blew corrugated roofs and some
>trees. Between Casapalca and Morococha at Ticlio there was a storm that
>accumulated snow more than one meter in places. The Misti in Arequipa is
>covered with snow all the way down. Two days ago in Cuzco there some
>snowflakes. Along the Andes temperatures 0=B0 or below. Some people froze.
>The high parts are all covered with snow blocking the high roads for hours
>or days. Today I learned that the road between Puquio and Challapallca
>(Ayacucho) has the greatest amount of snow and is totally blocked. Juliaca
>is also heavily covered with snow. Strong winds in places from Cajamarca
>south."Plenge, Manuel" <>
>
>25 AUGUST: USA CALIFORNIA
>We've had two rain storms in past 10 d; pretty weird, beats even the '83
>incident. Had a frigate bird and a dark-rumped petrel here and about as
>well. David Ainley <<>>
>
>26 AUGUST: BRITISH COLUMBIA TO CALIFORNIA
>Excerpted from FSNET (D. Powell, Univ. Guelph):
>The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against eating live
>oysters from Washington state, which may have higher levels of bacteria due
>to a heat wave in the Pacific Northwest.
> The FDA was quoted as saying, "Oysters from Washington State should
>be thoroughly cooked," adding the oysters should be boiled in water three
>to five minutes after the shells open and steaming live oysters four to
>nine minutes in a steamer that's already steaming.
> About 40 illnesses were reported in California and Washington state
>due to
>the consumption of raw oysters, the FDA said. An additional 100 cases have
>been reported in British Columbia leading to the closing of harvesting
>areas in that region.
>=46ROM: ProMED-mail<>
>
>27 AUGUST: USA WASHINGTON STATE
> I just spent the summer working for Chris Thompson at Wash Fish and
>Wildlife, where one of the projects I was working on was collecting data on
>seabirds washing up on the beaches on the southern Olympic Peninsula. I
>recorded over 1500 Common Murres and dozens of other species. Thomas Good
><>
>
>27 AUGUST: USA CALIFORNIA
>I am a biologist at Point Reyes Bird Observatory currently working on the
>=46arallon Islands off San Fransisco and thought you may be interested in
>recent events possibly concerning ENSO:
>* 30 year record SST of 19.2 deg.C on 8/26/97
>* during 82-83 ENSO SST reached 18.8 deg.C
>* Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, and large Albacore schools near the islands in Augus=
>t
>* Warm water conditions did not significantly affect seabird breeding in
>1997 as productivity was average for most species. Michelle Hester
><>
>
>28 AUGUST: USA CALIFORNIA
> . . One more note on the cormorant news story. The reason, I think, that
>this is getting so much attention at this time (it is a chronic problem) is
>that the numbers of recent hookings (of seabirds, ed) are so high. A lot
>of us scientists think this is a sign of the El Nino conditions in
>combination with a good year of productivity from the birds (I know this to
>be so for brown pelicans at least) and we are waiting for more data. Then
>another question to ponder: what do you do with all those starving birds
>that are expected? "Daniel W. Anderson" <> VIA
>SEABIRD
>
>28 AUGUST: VIRGIN ISLANDS
>I think it's important to place on record the "non-anomalies" as well: our
>Brown Noddies in the Caribbean had a completely normal breeding season in
>1997, and did extremely well (typical for our study site). John
>Chardine<>
>
>28 AUGUST: BRAZIL
>My name is Jorge l.B. Albuquerque. I am Prof of Biology and an
>Ornithologist living in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. My town is
>an island in south Brazil. I am observing a extensive droughT in our area.
>All started in our summer (DEC-MAR). It extended until July. Several trees
>which regularly flower during this season did not produce any flowers.
>Recently (late May) we experienced a big ocean storm which produced waves
>up to 3-4 meters along our coast. This was a very unusual event. In August
>a few rains started. People who are watching El Nino expect lots of rains,
>inundations by November. Dr. Jorge L.B. Albuquerque <>
>
>28 AUGUST: CHRISTMAS ISLAND, PACIFIC OCEAN
> I have just returned from Johnston Atoll, 16 N 169 W. for the first time
>since the 1982-83 ENSO when we began working there, there has been no
>effect from this current ENSO event. Usually I see reduced growth in
>several species of chicks and increased chick mortality.This has not
>happenend, although local water water temps. are warmer than ususal.
> This lack of effects is very unexpected and may be involved with the
>early onset timing of this event?
> I have heard from Peru that there is extensive seabird mortality
>occurring along the coast, and has been for several months.
>
>
>28 AUGUST: CHILE
>Our research team has been studying the breeding colony of Humboldt
>Penguins at Algarrobo, Chile since 1994. While there have been a number of
>times when heavy rains have effected the breeding success of birds in this
>colony, the entire colony was washed-out by rains in April-May 1997.
> Whether this was a random event or associated with this ENSO event
>is not known. However, we hope this information, looked at as a part of the
>bigger picture may help determine which is true. Ed Diebold
><>
>
>28 AUGUST: USA CALIFORNIA
>We've been seeing some interesting pelagic birds here on the Central Coast
>of California over the last couple of weeks; magnificent frigatebirds and
>the like. I'll forward on posts from the Monterey County rare bird alert
>when they contain reports of unusual birds that may be associated with El
>Nino. Peggi Rodgers <>
>
>31 AUGUST: CHILE
>CNN reports that Peruvian Brown Pelicans have invaded the town of Arica,
>northern Chile, swelling the population from 200 to 4,000. Pelicans tie up
>traffic as they wander down streets looking for food. Many are being run
>over or dying when they fly into electric lines. (Similar behavior occurred
>in past ENSO events in Peru when pelicans of the same species would invade
>markets to scavenge and steal food. Mass mortality of pelicans and other
>seabirds is a routine result of ENSO events off Peru and Chile.--ed). CNN
>Web site <http://cnn.com/EARTH/9708/31/chile.elnino/index.html>
>
>1 SEPTEMBER: USA CALIFORNIA
>warm (68 degrees F) off of Fort Bragg, California and someone caught a
>sailfish there! This is obviously highly unusual.
>
>
>1 SEPTEMBER: PANAMA
>The edge of a very active portion on the ITCZ is just south , ca 80 miles
>of Panama City with very heavy storm activity on a line from the Costa
>Rican border eastward touching the Azuero Peninsula and SE Darien
>provience. To the west, a portion of this very active ITCZ seems to be
>tearing off forming a Pacific Hurricane. Too early but if so, more Dry
>weather for Pacific lower Central America. The whole general area is under
>low pressure so little wind expected but if ITCZ shifts up 80-100 miles to
>north, then very heavy rain. Neal Smith <>
>
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