Once Again Feeling

Once again, things are starting to look weird along the West Coast. A rash of bird deaths has scientists wondering if they're seeing a repeat of last year, when they were alarmed by throngs of dead birds washing up on beaches, underfed whales and the failure of Washington's largest seabird-nesting colony, among other developments. Like last year, scientists say this year's bird deaths appear related to changes in the marine food web that they still don't understand but that look as if they are related to unusual weather. The dead birds are being tested for toxins, bird flu and other diseases. But many are so scrawny that researchers say it's virtually a foregone conclusion that they starved to death. "You've got skin and little more over the breastbone," said Bob Loeffel, biologist, "They're thin. Razor thin."