LONG BEACH – Seabirds have been washing ashore in large numbers this past Columbus Day weekend as the first major storm of the season blows through.

A combination of oil pollution and toxic green algae plus a very frothy sea foam has made for some very tough conditions for seabirds. Western grebes, northern fulmars, loons, petrels and cormorants and gulls have been coming up on the beaches by the hundreds, stunned and disoriented, trying to escape the deadly conditions out beyond the surf.

The sea foam and roaring sea conditions cause the birds to loose their waterproofing and become hypothermic and the conditions are usually fatal to these seabirds unless they receive treatment.

With more stormy weather and rough sea conditions forecast, more birds are expected to come ashore here on the beach. If you come upon these storm tossed birds out on the beach, gather them up in a towel, place them in a box to protect them and call the Wildlife Center at 665-3595.