Hundreds of birds found dead

Farmer Gunnar Óli Hákonarson at Sandur in Aðaldalur, north Iceland found hundreds of birds dead on a beach east of Skjálfandalói bay. The birds were mostly guillemots, an ocean bird. Biologists believe they died from starvation caused by bad weather in December. 

Hákonarson says that the bird carcasses lay about a metre apart and that ravens and foxes had started scavenging on them. 

"I've seen quantities of dead birds before but nothing like this. I've never seen so many ravens either in a group, I counted sixteen."  

Böðvar Þórisson at the Natural Institute of the West Fjords also said that a great number of seabirds had been reported dead in Ísafjörður at the beginning of January. He believes that an increase in seagulls, who are more aggressive in their feeding habits, may be a factor. 

Róbert Á.Stefánsson at the Natural Institute of west Iceland has noticed that even the seagulls are unusually hungry in the area. He has spotted wak and dying seagulls on the pier at Stykkishólmur and says seagulls are constantly flying over villages and searching for food. "This could indicate that there's less for them to feed on in nature this season."