After part of the iconic Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed into the ocean amid powerful waves on Monday, feathered culprits have been found to factor into the pier’s damage: seagulls.

Visitors to Seabright State Beach this week walk past debris that came ashore following the collapse of a section of the Santa Cruz Wharf on Monday. Pilings, beams and a myriad of material from

Repairs on the wharf, damaged by last winter’s storms, were delayed by strict permitting requirements, environmental litigation.