CNN —Hundreds of seabirds have been found dead on French Atlantic beaches, exhausted by unusually heavy winter storms that prevent them from feeding, environmentalists said. More than 500 common guillemots - seabirds related to penguins and puffins - have been found dead along the French Atlantic coast since the year began, French League for Birds has estimated. Scientists say it is likely the birds died from exhaustion due to difficult conditions at sea. Guillemots cannot survive without food for two or three days, as they have few energy reserves and need to feed almost constantly. “In storms like we have seen recently, these birds find it hard to feed properly and will die of exhaustion,” Fort said.

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Persons: Antoine Prevel, Shepherd France, ”, Jerome Fort, ” Fort Organizations: CNN, French League for Birds, France’s National Center for Scientific Research