The cause of death remains undetermined for more than 40 cormorants found at Venice Beach. Employees of the L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbors discovered the birds while working on the beach, and the carcasses were removed before the county Department of Public Health could evaluate the reports. Public Health found no evidence of an elevated risk to the public, according to the Los Angeles Times.
What is known about the beach response
Nicole Mooradian, a Beaches and Harbors spokesperson, said the number of dead cormorants was unusual. The department normally photographs dead seabirds and, when requested, transports them to local wildlife organizations for analysis. In this instance, the birds found on September 13 were discarded through the department’s normal disposal process, a practice the Times said can occur when crews are short-staffed. The supplied reporting does not establish whether any Venice carcasses were later recovered or examined: Los Angeles Times.
What the wider evidence does—and does not—show
International Bird Rescue reports that its California centers have received 392 starving seabirds since March 2026, including 82 Brandt’s cormorants. The organization says California Department of Fish and Wildlife and scientists are investigating the broader mortality event, and that Southern California birds tested for H5N1 avian influenza were negative. Those figures and test results do not identify the cause of the Venice deaths or prove that the beach carcasses were part of the reported starvation event: International Bird Rescue.
How to report birds in distress
Residents should not touch weakened seabirds. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health asks people to report clusters of three or more dead wild birds to its Veterinary Public Health unit or the state Dead Bird Hotline. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife also accepts reports of dead birds and advises people to contact a local wildlife rehabilitation facility for stranded seabirds. International Bird Rescue lists 1-866-SOS-BIRD for live birds that may need help: International Bird Rescue; Los Angeles Times.
