Agricultural runoff most likely caused bird deaths
The article “Trying to crack an ocean mystery” [page one, Nov. 29] didn’t include one important piece of information about the similar bird deaths from algae bloom in Monterey Bay.
Grebes, cormorants and numerous other local birds clotted our beaches after we had just been sprayed with pesticides involuntarily by the state of California.
The state had hoped to exterminate an apple moth. Coincidentally, thousands of sea and shore birds died. Their deaths were caused, we were told, by this type of algal bloom The Seattle Times article mentioned. So while sunlight has something to do with blooms, the levels of nitrates in the water have much more of an impact on blooms.
Runoff is a major mover of fertilizers and pesticides into the water system. The unknown chemicals in the aerial spraying also may have caused the bloom.
I would hope the scientists investigating this also check for any agricultural practices that add nitrates or other chemicals to water along the shoreline. That is where the most damage was done.
— Cecile Mills, Watsonville, Calif.