Shorebirds and Seabirds of the Central California Coastline

From its rocky and sandy shoreline to the depths of the Monterey Canyon, the Central California coastline and its offshore waters are home to a diverse array of colorful and interesting birds. Although none of the hundreds of bird species that breed, winter, or migrate along the coastline are endemic only to this zone, its habitat diversity and famous coastal cold-water up-welling currents are the secret to its exceptional avian diversity. In each blog post followers will enjoy high-quality photographs while learning about the natural history and conservation status of these interesting birds.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

Most recent Shorebirds and Seabirds of the Central California Coastline blog posts:

• 
  Cassin’s AukletNovember 15, 2023
• 
  Semipalmated PloverNovember 10, 2023
• 
  Parasitic JaegerNovember 5, 2023
• 
  Long-billed Curlew (COAST)October 31, 2023
• 
  Rhinoceros AukletOctober 26, 2023
• 
  Heermann’s GullOctober 21, 2023
• 
  Pacific LoonOctober 16, 2023
• 
  Wandering TattlerOctober 10, 2023

BIOTIC ZONES – Click here for a breakdown of the different California Coastline Biotic Zones.

California’s unique ocean habitats

From Monterey Bay Aquarium website

Kelp forests
Giant kelp plants form dense, sunlight-dappled forests that sway rhythmically in the cool waters of many of the world’s oceans. These submarine forests grow along the Pacific coast of North America, towering up to 175 feet over the ocean floor. Beautiful and biologically complex, kelp forests provide food and shelter for a diverse community of plants and animals.

Estuaries and wetlands
Where California’s rivers meet the ocean, estuaries and wetlands form critical habitats for wildlife and humans. They serve as nursery grounds for fish, many of which are commercial species vital to California’s coastal economy. Migrating birds stop to rest, feed and breed. These swamp-like habitats filter the pollutants and nutrients that flow from land, sequester carbon in the underlying sediments, protect our shorelines from erosion and mitigate sea-level rise.

Rocky reefs and seamounts
California’s rocky shoreline descends into the ocean, forming tide pools and underwater rocky reefs packed with sea life. Many animals rely on these stable, rough structures for shelter. Farther offshore, seamounts create beautiful islands of biodiversity in a vast ocean These underwater mountains attract sharks, whales, turtles and large pelagic fish. They are also home to unique and vulnerable deep-sea corals.

Deep-sea canyon
The largest ecosystem on Earth — the deep sea — lies between the ocean’s sunlit upper layers and the midnight-black bottom miles deep. Here, species must adapt to a world with little to no light, near-freezing temperatures and enormous pressure. Little is known about deep-sea life because it’s difficult and expensive to conduct research so far below the ocean’s surface.