Heatwave in US affects marine and bird life

The heatwave in Europe continues with Germany setting a new national heat record

for three consecutive days this week logging 41.7 degrees Celsius.

And wildfires in Greece kill at least two people in the north of the country

as firefighters evacuate two villages in the central region.

The United States is still in the thick of the heat as the rising temperatures

are affecting seabirds and marine life.

Pelicans recovering from the heat in an aviary

at International Bird Rescue in California.

\JD BERGERON\CEO, International Bird Rescue

Birds sick or dying on the beach. Large numbers of dead birds,

and it's not abnormal to see dead birds on the beach,

but the quantity of dead birds is unusual.

We match that with the concern of the marine heatwave.

We think these birds are not being able to access

the food that is so important for their livelihood.

The warmer water drives fish away. Fish do not like warm water,

so they either go deeper or they find cooler water somewhere else.

If birds hunt in that area, their fish are just not there.

The world's oceans have had record breaking temperatures

according to EU's climate change scientists

and they warn El Nino weather system is set to put even

more stress on marine animals.

Dr. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director, Copernicus Climate Change Service

Marine heatwaves are really what causes the devastation to wildlife

in particular and we have seen numerous marine heatwaves recently,

particularly in the Mediterranean, but also in the North Pacific.

So that is not, associated with the El Nino.

But as the El Nino event develops,

the sea surface temperatures will continue to rise.

So we are more likely to see more of those marine heatwave events

that lead to consequences, devastating consequences

for important ecosystems like coral reefs and seagrass.

They also impact the health and quality of fisheries and aquaculture

In Cambridge, Massachusetts a worker shovels dry ice into

cardboard boxes for distribution across New England to help

battle the heatwave.

Marc Savenor, Owner, Acme Ice and Dry Ice Co.

I love the heat. The heat has made this business an Iceman's dream.

It's Fourth of July. We got a heat wave coming.

What could an Iceman ask for?

But the extreme heat is what the story is. It has changed the business.

It has made it a lot busier. There's a lot more emergency cases.

There's lot more, you know, drinks and soda fountains

running out of ice, and we are there for everybody.

But I'll tell you, it's a hard job to take, you know, to do on a hot day like this.