A marine heat wave caused seabird deaths off California. El Nino could worsen the die-off
Associated Press
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Beachgoers pass a dead common murre on a beach near Scripps Pier during a survey for dying seabirds Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Marine ornithologist Tammy Russell, right, and Alex Rubenstein search for dead seabirds under Scripps Pier during a survey Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A common murre lies on a beach near Scripps Pier during a survey for dying seabirds Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Marine ornithologist Tammy Russell, left, looks at a dead seabird near a beach goer during a survey along Blacks Beach on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Brooke Lafrenz takes a drink of water as she shares a rock with a seabird along Blacks Beach on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Jeni Smith, Rescue Supervisor at SeaWorld, passes an enclosure for rehabilitating seabirds at the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Jeni Smith, Rescue Supervisor at SeaWorld, passes an enclosure for rehabilitating seabirds at the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A veterinarian holds an ailing pelican before surgery at SeaWorld on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)A common murre spreads its wings in a rehabilitation tank at the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Russell holds the wing of a pelican during surgery at SeaWorld on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
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Beachgoers pass a dead common murre on a beach near Scripps Pier during a survey for dying seabirds Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)