The mystery of why dozens of dead birds are washing up on beaches along New Zealand’s coastline has been solved.
A photo of a bird half-buried in sand prompted locals on Sydney’s northern beaches to wonder why so many bodies had been spotted.
The Northside Emergency Veterinary Service provided a definitive answer in a post on its Facebook page – explaining that the mass deaths were an annual phenomenon.
“We are seeing large numbers of shearwater seabirds (also known as sheepbirds) washing up along local beaches, mainly due to exhaustion and famine,” the report said.
‘This is due to the challenges of their intense annual migration between Australia and the Northern Hemisphere and reduced food availability, likely related to climate change.
‘Unfortunately, a shearwater is unlikely to recover if it is too weak to fly.’
Locals debated whether the effects of climate change were causing the deaths of more birds than in previous years.
“It happens every year, but researchers have found that the death rate has increased,” one person noted.
Locals on Sydney’s northern beaches wondered why dead birds were washing up
The Northside Emergency Veterinary Service has provided a definitive answer to why so many dead birds wash up on Sydney beaches – proving it is an annual phenomenon
‘Climate change means there is less food for the poor birds and they die from malnutrition. Very sad.’
Some shearwater birds travel as far as 9,000 miles during their annual migration between breeding grounds in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.
The birds must be at full strength to make the mammoth trek across the Pacific, but the fish they feed on have apparently shrunk due to rising sea temperatures.
Anyone who finds a stranded or weak shearwater should contact a recognized wildlife rescue and rehabilitation group or the nearest veterinarian.
Pets and children should be kept away from distressed birds.
If a bird is found with a metal ring on its leg, people should report the number to the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme.