{"id":317988,"date":"2026-05-15T23:43:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T23:43:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/317988\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T23:43:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T23:43:41","slug":"waves-of-dead-birds-are-washing-up-on-california-beaches-in-mystery-that-puzzles-wildlife-experts-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/317988\/","title":{"rendered":"Waves of dead birds are washing up on California beaches in mystery that puzzles wildlife experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Something strange is washing up on Southern California beaches<\/a>, and it\u2019s not just trash.<\/p>\n

Dead seabirds have been turning up in alarming numbers along stretches of coastline<\/a> from Ventura County to Long Beach, and San Diego and Ventura County, according to a report from The LA Local<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The outlet reported spotting at least eight dead birds along a 1.5-mile walk on the beach in Long Beach, while social media users across California described seeing even more carcasses littering the sand.<\/p>\n

One Reddit user cited by the outlet claimed they counted 14 dead birds during a visit to Ellwood Beach in Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The LA Local reported an increasing number of dead birds have been seen on Southern California beaches. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Officials and wildlife experts said the sightings are far from normal.<\/p>\n

A staff member at Long Beach Lifeguards Headquarters reportedly said dead birds occasionally appear on beaches, but the volume seen in recent months has been unusually high. The employee told The LA Local that officials once found roughly 30 dead birds on the beach in a single day.<\/p>\n

International Bird Rescue \u2014\u00a0a nonprofit seabird rescue organization<\/a> with a wildlife center in San Pedro \u2014\u00a0also confirmed a spike in reports.<\/p>\n

CEO JD Bergeron told the outlet the organization began receiving roughly four times its normal number of calls about dead birds starting around March 1, jumping from about 10 calls a day to roughly 40.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, we get nervous,\u201d Bergeron told The LA Local, explaining that bird flu was among the first concerns investigated.<\/p>\n

\"International<\/p>\n

International Bird Rescue \u2014 a nonprofit seabird rescue organization with a wildlife center in San Pedro \u2014 also confirmed a spike in reports. Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/p>\n

But testing reportedly ruled out avian influenza.<\/p>\n

Experts also explored whether harmful algal blooms \u2014\u00a0commonly referred to as red tide \u2014\u00a0could be responsible, but investigators were unable to directly connect the phenomenon<\/a> to the dead birds, according to the report.<\/p>\n

Some beachgoers speculated offshore oil operations near Long Beach<\/a> may be involved. One local interviewed by The LA Local pointed toward the THUMS Islands \u2014\u00a0the manmade oil islands visible off Long Beach\u2019s coast \u2014\u00a0and theorized birds were becoming contaminated while diving for food.<\/p>\n

Bergeron, however, said the birds showed no signs of oil exposure.<\/p>\n

The strongest theory so far appears to be tied to warming ocean temperatures.<\/p>\n

\"Some<\/p>\n

Some beachgoers speculated offshore oil operations near Long Beach may be involved Getty Images<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

One local interviewed by The LA Local pointed toward the THUMS Islands \u2014 the manmade oil islands visible off Long Beach\u2019s coast MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bergeron told the outlet that an ongoing Pacific Ocean marine heat wave known as \u201cThe Blob\u201d may be disrupting fish migration patterns<\/a>, forcing prey species into colder, deeper waters and leaving seabirds struggling to find food.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my perspective, it\u2019s hard to see any version of this in which the temperature of the water is not a factor,\u201d Bergeron told The LA Local.<\/p>\n

The NOAA Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program has tracked \u201cThe Blob\u201d for years.<\/p>\n

Still, no definitive explanation has emerged.<\/p>\n

And with summer crowds expected to flood California beaches in the coming weeks, one question remains unanswered: who exactly is supposed to clean up the dead birds?<\/p>\n

According to The LA Local, Long Beach Animal Care Services told residents that dead animal pickups are considered \u201cnon-emergency\u201d calls and take between 24 and 72 hours for response crews to address.<\/p>\n

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