Hundreds of Birds Swarm Cruise Ship in Distressing Video Captured by Passenger

Cruise ship passengers were left in shock as hundreds of birds swarmed the vessel, leaving it covered in feathers and droppings.

A video taken by passenger Wendy Hernandez shows the birds circling the ship and landing on its decks and railings.

The incident occurred on the Carnival Magic cruise ship on its way to Cozumel, Mexico, on January 22.

Hernandez said the birds appeared to be disoriented and tired, and many were seen falling into the sea.

"It was really sad to see," she said. "They were just sitting there, and they didn't seem to know what to do."

Carnival Cruise Line said in a statement that the birds were likely migrating and had become disoriented by the ship's lights.

"The safety and well-being of our guests and crew is our top priority," the statement said. "We are working with local authorities to investigate this incident and take appropriate action."

Experts say that bird strikes are a common occurrence for cruise ships, especially during migration seasons.

In 2019, a study by the University of North Carolina found that cruise ships kill an estimated 100,000 birds each year.

Conservationists are calling for cruise lines to take steps to reduce bird strikes, such as using dim lights and installing bird deterrents.

Carnival Cruise Line said it is committed to protecting wildlife and is working to find ways to reduce bird strikes.

"We are actively working with experts to develop and implement new technologies and solutions to minimize the impact of our operations on wildlife," the statement said.