Increasing numbers of dead short-tailed and sable shearwaters, commonly known as muttonbirds, are washing up on Australian beaches, primarily due to starvation linked to climate change rather than natural causes like strong winds. An estimated 629,000 shearwaters died during the 2023-24 southern summer, representing about 3% of their global population.

• 01Dead shearwaters are primarily a result of starvation due to climate change, not strong winds.
• 02The waters off Australia's east coast are warming significantly faster than the global average.
• 03An estimated 629,000 adult shearwaters died in a short period during the 2023-24 southern summer.
• 04Shearwaters serve as indicators of ocean health, and their mass deaths signal ecological distress.
• 05Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, impacting seabird populations.

The mass deaths of shearwaters indicate significant ecological distress in marine environments, affecting biodiversity and potentially impacting local communities that rely on healthy oceans.