The Newfoundland and Labrador Animal Health division is testing several seabirds that washed ashore on the Bonavista and Avalon Peninsulas this week.

About 45 birds have washed ashore since last Sunday and more are expected.

The tests will hopefully determine why the birds died, although starvation has been identified in a number of the birds.

People are being asked not to touch the birds and to keep their pets from coming into contact with them.

Environment department officials say seabird die-offs are not an uncommon event at this time of year due to ice, weather conditions and starvation.