Thousands of starving seabirds, particularly common murres, are washing up dead on California’s Central Coast due to unusually warm waters driven by climate change and a strong El Niño. Scientists warn the warming ocean is pushing fish deeper, leaving birds unable to feed. At Cayucos State Beach, rangers have found over 1,900 dead birds and 750 injured since September — a dramatic spike from 120 last year.
The crisis highlights seabirds as "the canary in the coal mine," signaling broader ecological distress. While warm water has brought rare sightings of tropical species, it threatens native wildlife like kelp, sea lions, and birds. Locals and surfers express growing concern as dead birds litter the shore, with no clear sign of when conditions may normalize.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing