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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News Release
Avian Influenza Detected in Seabird at Point Reyes National Seashore
Date: March 17, 2026
POINT REYES STATION, Calif. — Biologists at Point Reyes National Seashore received results of a presumptive positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dead common murre, a penguin-like seabird, recovered from Kehoe Beach.
The National Park Service reminds visitors that they should never approach or handle wildlife. Keep pets on a leash in areas where pets are allowed and away from sick or dead wildlife to reduce the risk of infection and prevent further stress or injury to the wildlife. If you encounter sick or dead wildlife, maintain a safe distance and please report it to a visitor center, park staff or by phone or email at 415-464-5100, or pore_info@nps.gov.
Park biologists began observing an increased number of dead common murres along park beaches on February 25. The event was later identified as part of a broader regional seabird mortality event affecting beaches throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
On March 10, the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center informed park staff that preliminary testing showed a presumptive positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in one of three dead birds collected.
Park staff are coordinating closely with wildlife health experts and partner organizations, including The Marine Mammal Center, the Beach Watch program run by Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries in partnership with the Greater Farallones Association, and University of California, Davis, to monitor wildlife health and assess conditions in the park.
Recent reports of avian influenza affecting marine mammals at Año Nuevo State Park increased regional interest in the disease. Biologists at Point Reyes continue to monitor the park’s northern elephant seal colony closely. At this time, no signs of illness have been observed among elephant seals at Point Reyes.
The park will continue coordinating with partner agencies and wildlife health experts to monitor conditions and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.
About the National Park Service Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.
https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/news/avian-influenza.htm
Increase in Seabird Deaths Not Linked to Avian Influenza
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been investigating increased reports of debilitated and dead seabirds on California beaches. Of the birds examined, nearly all have been younger birds that are emaciated, sometimes with opportunistic fungal respiratory infection and/or heavy parasitism, or with secondary injuries.
CDFW began receiving reports last fall initially involving Brandt’s cormorants and common murres and have more recently included California brown pelicans along California’s central and southern coasts, roughly Mendocino County south to San Diego County. Additionally, many wildlife rehabilitation facilities have been admitting increased numbers of debilitated cormorants, murres and pelicans.
Avian influenza has not been detected in the 33 Brandt’s cormorants examined to-date by CDFW. Partners have tested an additional 22 cormorants with preliminary detections of avian influenza in only two cormorants collected in early January from San Francisco County. Avian influenza has not been detected in the roughly 34 common murres tested by CDFW and partners. Preliminary detections of avian influenza have been made in only four murres, two collected from San Mateo County in January and February, and two collected in early March from Marin and Santa Cruz counties, respectively.
Testing is ongoing for additional birds collected in recent weeks.
Avian influenza H5N1 was first detected in California wild birds in July 2022. Since then, avian influenza activity in wild birds has typically increased during fall migration and winter and then decreased during spring migration and summer. Although avian influenza H5N1 was recently detected in marine mammals along coastal San Mateo County, this current seabird mortality appears to be largely unrelated to avian influenza activity.
Brandt’s cormorants, common murres, and brown pelicans breed on offshore rocks and islands along the coast. Seabird researchers have reported that 2025 was an unusually good reproductive year for these species. An increase in reproduction is often followed by high juvenile mortality. Young seabirds are typically less experienced at catching prey and are less resilient to changes in food resource availability and adverse weather such as severe wind or winter storms.
Wildlife officials will continue to monitor impacted seabirds from affected areas to better determine if other factors begin to contribute to the seabird mortality. For example, Brandt’s cormorants are sometimes impacted by a parasitic infection called Sarcocystis calchasi, and seabirds and marine mammals are periodically impacted by harmful algal blooms like domoic acid.
Officials ask the public not to touch, harass, attempt to feed or take photographs with debilitated seabirds. Do not attempt to remove any fishing lines or embedded fishing hooks from entangled birds.
How Can the Public Help?
Report stranded seabirds:
Residents can report dead wildlife to CDFW’s Wildlife Health Laboratory using the mortality reporting form, which helps biologists monitor the event. Please include photos if possible.
Support a local wildlife rehabilitation facility:
Contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility intaking seabirds directly for how best to assist.
Report marine mammals:
To report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal in California, call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: (866) 767-6114. Information on species and regional stranding contacts may be found on the NOAA Fisheries website(external link).
