Hundreds of dead guillemots were recently found by farmer Gunnar Óli Hákonarson at Sandur in Aðaldalur, North Iceland. The birds, which were found on a beach east of the mouth of Skjálfandafljót river, are believed to have died from starvation due to bad weather in December. Foxes and ravens have been scavenging on the bird carcasses.
Böðvar Þórisson at the Natural Institute of the West Fjords told mbl.is this week that a large number of seabirds were found dead in Ísafjörður earlier this month. An increase in seagulls, which are more aggressive in their feeding habits, may be to blame, he said.
According to Róbert Á. Stefánsson at the Natural Institute of West Iceland, even seagulls have been hungry this winter.
