During the last week of February and the first two days of March 1976, large numbers of dead seabirds, particularly Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), Black-legged Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and Common Murres (Uria aalge), washed up on the Pacific coast beaches of Washington and northern Oregon. Lesser numbers of fulmars and kittiwakes were recorded on beaches south into southern California (DeSante 1976). This event received considerable news coverage and the concern of biologists, naturalists and others.