Birding at Monterey Bay, California

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Monterey Bay in Northern California is one of the most spectacular birding and wildlife venues in North America. Birders will see Golden Eagles, California Condors, Bushtits, Townsend's Warblers, Snowy Plovers and flocks of thousands of Sooty Shearwaters. Few places can match the diversity of habitats as Monterey Bay. The Monterey Canyon, one of the largest underwater canyons in the world, begins off the coast of Moss Landing. The upwelling of nutrient rich water from this deep canyon combine to bring pelagic birds close to shore. One needs to get out on a boat to see most of the truly pelagic species up close. Monterey Bay is also home to many species of marine mammals, including sea otters, harbor seals, and bottlenose dolphins; as well as being on the migratory path of Gray and Humpback Whales and a breeding site for elephant seals. Killer whales are also found along the coast, especially when Gray whales migrate, as they hunt the whales during their migration north. Many species of fish, sharks, mollusks such as abalone and squid, and sea turtles also live in the bay. Several varieties of kelp grow in the bay, some becoming as tall as trees, forming what is known as a kelp forest.

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