Scientists say a lingering marine heat wave off California is contributing to widespread seabird deaths, and they warn El Niño could intensify the problem. Across multiple reports, researchers describe seabirds starving as prey fish move away from the surface and into deeper, cooler waters, making it harder for seabirds to feed. Observers in affected areas have found numerous dead birds on beaches, with some carcasses mixed among kelp and others hidden under rocks, suggesting ongoing mortality tied to poor food availability. The Guardian and The Independent both frame the situation as part of a broader ecosystem disruption associated with warmer ocean conditions. While the exact scale of additional losses under El Niño remains uncertain, scientists quoted in the reports emphasize that they cannot yet predict how severe the die-off could become. The reports collectively stress that the current pattern reflects disrupted marine food chains rather than a single localized event, and that continued monitoring is needed as ocean temperatures and fish distributions evolve.