Created: 6/20/2007 10:06:37 PM 
By Kyle Meenan First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL -- From Georgia to Fort Lauderdale, thousands of dead seabirds are washing up on the East Coast.
They look like seagulls except they have much more brown in their feathering.
They are 'Puffinus Gravis' -- more commonly known as the Greater Shearwater.
They are champion migrators, on their way from South Africa, where they winter, past our First Coast Beaches en route to the shores of New England and beyond.
Except this week, thousands of dead shearwaters are washing up on Florida's beaches.
A spokesperson for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission told First Coast News scientists are performing necropsies, or animal autopsies on a number of the dead birds.
"They are emaciated and they don't have any food in their system which indicates that starvation has played a role, and likely that's through part of their migration process," said FWC's Wendy Quigley. Jacksonville Beach has only had a handful of dead birds this week, which is not unusual, and it is unclear if any of them were shearwaters.
Florida Fish & Wildlife biologists are continuing to conduct animal autopsies on the birds found to the south trying to learn how they died.
One concern: Did the birds die from avian or bird influenza?
So far, the test results have been good.
"We had three birds tested for avian influenza and the tests came back negative," said Quigley.
"We do have additional birds that are being tested as well as other tests for things which were done for things like mercury levels, viruses or bacterial levels. We are still awaiting the results of those tests."
Quigley told First Coast News it is possible sick or injured birds may come ashore in the coming days. Wildlife experts say don't try to handle them. Instead, click here to contact their offices.
Related article:
Scientists Look For Cause Of Sea Bird Deaths, Illnesses ©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.
