Data and code from: Sea ice perturbation and mass starvation of Thick-billed Murres

During spring 2022, thousands of Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) died on the southern Labrador and northeastern Newfoundland coasts. Location and timing of the event were compiled from public sources, including social media and institutions. Some retained carcasses were dissected and compared to healthy birds. The rapid-onset, five-week event lasted from March 18 to April 25, 2022, emanating from an impact site in southern Labrador. Extreme winds compacted and reduced sea ice area, which exposed sub-zero water temperatures and limited feeding options. Dissections were performed to determine body condition and demographics of birds affected. Neither sex nor age was associated with mortality, and a subset of carcasses tested negative for influenza A. Carcass masses averaged 65.5 % of the body mass of healthy birds, indicative of a threshold for stage III starvation (protein catabolism). Photographs and measurements showed significant pectoral muscle wasting, and pectoral mass was less t..., , # Data and code from: Sea ice perturbation and mass starvation of Thick-billed Murres

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.9kd51c5x7](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9kd51c5x7)

## Description of the data and file structure

Sightings of stranded and deceased seabirds were compiled from social media, public reports, and counts and reviews from community organizations. Die-off carcasses were collected from multiple locations and frozen for further study. Both these birds and birds obtained from hunters were dissected. They were weighed, sexed, and external and internal measurements were taken. 

### Files and variables

#### File: tbmuhonours.Rproj

**Description:** Overarching project file to run code in R

#### File: tbmumap.Rmd

**Description:** Markdown file that organizes and tidies the compiled public reports of strandings and shows maps and graphs of where and when birds were found

#### File: tbmustats.Rmd

**Description:** Markdown file that organizes and analyzes results of bird necropsi...,