Beachgoers across San Diego County are encountering a troubling and increasingly common sight with dead or struggling seabirds washing up along the coast from La Jolla to Carlsbad.
Some birds are so weak, they’re approaching people. It’s behavior wildlife experts say is highly unusual.
“These cormorants are kind of wandering… they are starving to death,” said Jeni Smith, a rescue program curator at SeaWorld San Diego.
Smith says her team has been inundated with calls since mid-February.
“SeaWorld is receiving calls all day, every day during the night,” she said.
So far, rescue crews have taken in more than 115 birds, primarily Brandt’s cormorants, brown pelicans and common murres. The pace is picking up, with teams now responding to four to five rescues a day, many involving cormorants in critical condition.
Wildlife officials say starvation appears to be the primary cause, and it may be tied to what’s happening offshore.
Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have recorded near-record ocean temperatures for months, creating what’s known as a marine heat wave. The warmer water is pushing fish into deeper, cooler areas, making it harder for diving birds to find food.
“It’s definitely hard to see that these animals aren’t able to find their food source,” Smith said. “They’re starving, they are very, very emaciated.”
Rescuers say many of the birds they receive are lethargic, underweight and, in some cases, showing neurological symptoms. Inside SeaWorld’s rescue center, care is intensive. Birds are first stabilized with fluids and a specialized feeding formula described as a “fish milkshake” before gradually transitioning back to solid food.
Despite the grim trend, there have been small signs of hope.
Earlier this week, SeaWorld teams released five rehabilitated birds, including a brown pelican, back into the ocean.
“When we have success and return the animals and they fly away or swim away, it’s a great feeling,” Smith said.
Still, the scale of the die-off is striking.
“I think it’s really sad when you’re walking the beaches,” Smith added. “We haven’t seen this amount of deceased animals lying on the beaches.”
Rescuers are urging the public to keep their distance from any sick or stranded birds and report them to SeaWorld Rescue’s trained professionals at 1-800-541-SEAL.
When calling in a report, officials say it’s helpful to provide the animal’s location, type and size, along with details about its behavior and condition. Photos or video can also help rescuers assess the situation before arriving.