A dying pelican crawls away from the surf to die on the beach of Paita, in Tumbes, near Peru’s border with Ecuador, on May 2. At first, Peruvian authorities said a virus was wiping out seabirds, but now experts say they are starving to death. A wave of warmer waters could be steering Peruvian anchovetas, which seabirds feed off, to cooler climates.
After widespread dolphin deaths, thousands of seabirds such as boobies and pelicans have washed up on Peruvian beaches. Now, Chile has spotted massive bird die-offs as well. Scientists are searching for a connection.