A reminder to be grateful that—despite messes—barn swallows, and other birds, consistently make our home part of their migration route.
"Over the last half-century, North America has lost a third of its birds.
…
“Every year from Nov 1 until Dec 15, the Monterey Peninsula becomes one of the most ideal locations in North America to view an avian passage unique in species and magnitude. The geography of Monterey Bay funnels birds along a specific route over nutrient-rich waters, making Point Pinos an optimal vantage point for spotting birds midstream from extreme northern regions as far as the Arctic.

"The Seawatch program, run by the Audubon Society and now in its 10th year, was erected with this understanding – orchestrating an annual count of all birds passing by, with an emphasis on two in particular, the Pacific loon and the surf scoter.”
#MontereyCountyNow

https://www.montereycountynow.com/news/local_news/one-of-the-nation-s-most-challenging-seabird-counts-is-underway-in-pacific-grove/article_e72cfa8c-9067-426c-92b6-1857d14c0355.html

#MontereyCounty #birds #bird #migration #BirdWatching #AudubonSociety #PacificLoon #SurfScoter #seabirds

Loon Portrait

My first time photographing a loon in breeding plumage. We get Pacific Loons in San Francisco during the winter, mainly on the bay and in the ocean. Nothing can really prepare you for the experience of lying next to a lake on a crisp Alaska morning, watching a pair of loons gliding around seemingly effortlessly.