Marine heat wave causes mass bird deaths off California; Scientists fear it could get worse

Marine heat wave causes mass bird deaths off California, and scientists fear it could get worse, after researchers and volunteers documented repeated seabird die-offs along the state’s coast. Postdoctoral scholar Tammy Russell of the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography observed carcasses on a San Diego beach within minutes, describing deaths in minutes to hours, including cases occurring in as little as 15 minutes. The article links starvation for species such as California brown pelicans, loons, and grebes to record-warm ocean temperatures that reduce cold, nutrient-rich surface waters where prey like krill and small fish concentrate near shore. U.S. NOAA confirmed El Niño formed in June and is expected to intensify to historic strength. Scientists warn the combination could exacerbate conditions; this marine heat wave has persisted for about a year, with only the third occurrence on record of prolonged warming across a large coastal region.