Hundreds of pelicans have died on the beaches of Pisco, Peru, due to starvation caused by the El Niño weather pattern [1].
This mass mortality event highlights the fragility of marine food chains when sudden temperature shifts disrupt the availability of primary prey. Because pelicans rely heavily on a specific fish species, the collapse of that population can lead to rapid, large-scale avian death.
Observations of the dead birds occurred during May and June 2026 [3]. The birds were found along the shoreline of the coastal city of Pisco, located in the Ica region [2]. While some reports describe the number of dead birds as dozens [2], other accounts said that hundreds have been observed [1].
Experts said the deaths are due to the warming of sea surface temperatures associated with El Niño [1]. This warming reduces the populations of anchoveta, which serve as the primary food source for the pelicans [2]. Without sufficient anchoveta to hunt, the birds succumb to starvation.
The phenomenon has created a critical shortage of nutrients in the coastal waters. This environmental stressor does not only affect pelicans but impacts the broader marine ecosystem of the region [1]. The lack of food has forced birds to wander closer to the shore in search of sustenance, often leading to their death on the beaches where they are eventually discovered [2].
“Hundreds of pelicans have died on the beaches of Pisco, Peru, due to starvation.”
The mass death of pelicans in Pisco serves as a biological indicator of the severe impact El Niño has on the Humboldt Current ecosystem. When warmer waters displace the nutrient-rich cold currents, the anchoveta population—a keystone species—collapses, creating a domino effect that threatens various marine birds and mammals. This event underscores the increasing vulnerability of coastal biodiversity to erratic climate patterns.
