West Coast Residents

Oregon Islands NWR -
Coquille Point Unit

I think this guy was just as interested in me as
I was in him. Such a beautiful bird!

Nobody can resist the long orange bill of the Black Oystercatcher! I was able to watch three of them today as they preened on a rock outcropping nearby. I was visiting the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (Coquille Point Unit) in Bandon, when I happened upon this group. Favoring rocky shorelines, you won’t find this bird on the East Coast – it is a strict West Coast resident, spanning from Alaska to Baja, California. As you might suspect, it is a mollusk specialist, using its powerful bill to dislodge and pry open prey. While this bird is not a species of concern, it is a keystone indicator species throughout the north Pacific shoreline, and is a focal species for priority conservation action of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A real pleasure to see today!

Black Oystercatcher