Animals of the

Scientific Name: Enhydra lutris

Weight:

• Male: 60-90 lbs (27-41 kg)
• Female: 35-60 lbs (16-27 kg)

Lifespan: 10-20 years in the wild

Interesting Fact: Southern sea otters have the densest fur of any mammal, with up to 1 million hairs per square inch! This thick fur keeps them warm in the cold ocean water, as they lack blubber like other marine mammals.

Scientific Name: Zalophus californianus

Weight:

• Male: 600-850 lbs (272-386 kg)
• Female: 200-250 lbs (91-113 kg)

Lifespan:

• Male: Up to 19 years
• Female: Up to 25 years

Interesting Fact: California sea lions are the fastest swimming pinniped (group that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses), reaching speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour)! They use their powerful flippers to propel themselves through the water in pursuit of fish, squid, and octopus.

Scientific Name: Phoca vitulina

Weight:

• Male: 265 lbs (120 kg)
• Female: 220 lbs (100 kg)

Lifespan: 25-30 years

Interesting Fact: Harbor seals are skilled divers and can hold their breath for up to 28 minutes! This allows them to dive deep underwater to hunt for fish, squid, and crustaceans on the ocean floor. They also use their whiskers, called vibrissae, to sense vibrations in the water, helping them locate prey in low-light conditions.

Brandt’s Cormorant

Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax penicillatus

Size: Medium-sized cormorant Weight: Approximately 2-3 kilograms (4.4-6.6 pounds) Lifespan: Up to 15 years

Physical Description:

• Sleek body with long neck
• Primarily black plumage with iridescent green sheen
• Breeding adults: distinctive blue throat patch, white plumes on head and neck
• Non-breeding adults: lack breeding plumage

Habitat:

• Marine coastal environments
• Nests on rocky cliffs or islands

Diet:

• Primarily fish, but also consumes squid and crustaceans

Behavior:

• Excellent swimmer and diver
• Often social, forming large colonies
• Nests in dense colonies

Conservation Status: Least Concern, but populations fluctuate.

Western Grebe

Western Grebe

Scientific Name: Aechmophorus occidentalis

Size: Large waterbird Weight: Approximately 1.4-2 kilograms (3-4.4 pounds) Lifespan: Up to 15 years

Physical Description:

• Elongated body with slender neck
• Breeding plumage: black head and neck, white body
• Non-breeding plumage: gray-brown body with white underparts
• Long, pointed bill

Habitat:

• Freshwater lakes and ponds
• Coastal waters during migration

Diet:

• Primarily fish, but also consumes aquatic insects and crustaceans

Behavior:

• Excellent swimmer and diver
• Known for elaborate courtship displays
• Nests on floating platforms of vegetation

Conservation Status: Least Concern, but populations declining in some areas.

Caspian Tern

Scientific Name: Hydroprogne caspia

Size: Largest tern species Weight: Approximately 500-800 grams (1.1-1.8 pounds) Lifespan: Up to 25 years

Physical Description:

• Large size with long, thick, red bill
• White body with gray wings
• Black cap in breeding plumage, reduced in non-breeding plumage
• Short, black legs

Habitat:

• Coastal areas, large lakes, and rivers
• Nests in colonies on open ground

Diet:

• Primarily fish, but also consumes crustaceans and insects

Behavior:

• Powerful and agile flyer
• Aggressive defender of territory
• Nests in colonies

Conservation Status: Least Concern, but populations declining in some areas.

Common Loon

Scientific Name: Gavia immer

Size: Large waterbird Weight: 4-5.5 kilograms (9-12 pounds) Lifespan: Up to 30 years

Physical Description:

• Elongated body with pointed bill
• Breeding plumage: black head and neck, white chest and belly, black and white checkered back
• Non-breeding plumage: gray-brown body with white underparts

Habitat:

• Freshwater lakes for breeding
• Coastal waters and large inland lakes during migration and winter

Diet:

• Primarily fish, but also consumes amphibians and aquatic insects

Behavior:

• Excellent swimmer and diver
• Known for distinctive yodeling call
• Nests on islands or shorelines

Conservation Status: Varies by region, but overall considered stable.

Double-Crested Cormorant

Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax auritus

Size: Medium-sized cormorant Weight: Approximately 1.5-2.4 kilograms (3.3-5.3 pounds) Lifespan: Up to 16 years

Physical Description:

• Stocky body with long neck and tail
• Black plumage with iridescent green and purple sheen
• Breeding adults: double crests of black or white feathers, yellow-orange facial skin
• Non-breeding adults: lack breeding plumage

Habitat:

• Freshwater and saltwater environments
• Nests in trees, shrubs, or on rocky cliffs

Diet:

• Primarily fish, but also consumes amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals

Behavior:

• Excellent swimmer and diver
• Often social, forming large colonies
• Spreads wings to dry after swimming

Conservation Status: Least Concern, but populations fluctuate.

Marbled Godwit

Marbled Godwit

Scientific Name: Limosa fedoa

Size: Large shorebird Weight: Approximately 500-800 grams (1.1-1.8 pounds) Lifespan: Up to 15 years

Physical Description:

• Large body with long, slightly upturned bill
• Breeding plumage: mottled brown and black with white belly
• Non-breeding plumage: paler brown with white belly

Habitat:

• Wetlands, grasslands, and agricultural fields during breeding
• Coastal mudflats and estuaries during migration and winter

Diet:

• Invertebrates, including insects, worms, and crustaceans
• Plant matter, such as seeds and tubers

Behavior:

• Long-distance migrant
• Often found in flocks
• Proficient wader and swimmer

Conservation Status: Least Concern, but populations declining in some areas.

Pelagic Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Scientific Name: Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Size: Small cormorant Weight: Approximately 1.5 – 2.4 kilograms (3.3 – 5.3 pounds) Lifespan: Unknown

Physical Description:

• Slender body with long neck and tail
• Breeding plumage: black with iridescent green and purple sheen, white flank patches, red facial skin, double crests
• Non-breeding plumage: black with iridescent sheen, lacking breeding ornaments

Habitat:

• Coastal waters and rocky shores
• Nests on cliffs

Diet:

• Fish
• Mollusks
• Crustaceans

Behavior:

• Excellent diver
• Often solitary or in small groups
• Nests in colonies

Conservation Status: Varies by region, generally considered stable.

Pigeon Guillemot

Scientific Name: Cepphus columba

Size: Medium-sized auk Weight: Approximately 450-550 grams (16-19 ounces) Lifespan: Unknown

Physical Description:

• Stocky body with rounded wings and straight bill
• Breeding plumage: dark brown with black sheen, white wing patch
• Non-breeding plumage: white underparts, mottled gray-white upperparts
• Distinctive red legs and feet

Habitat:

• Coastal waters and rocky shores
• Nests in cliff crevices, talus slopes, or human-made structures

Diet:

• Small fish
• Mollusks
• Crustaceans
• Marine worms

Behavior:

• Feeds by diving underwater
• Nests in colonies
• Courtship display involves marching and showing off red feet

Conservation Status: Varies by region, but generally considered stable.

Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Scientific Name: Charadrius semipalmatus

Size: Small Weight: Approximately 1.6 ounces (45 grams) Lifespan: Unknown, estimated several years

Physical Description:

• Small, round-headed plover
• Short, orange bill with black tip
• Breeding adults: black crown, eye patch, and breast band
• Lower body: white
• Legs: yellow

Habitat:

• Breeds: Arctic tundra
• Nests: gravel bars, near rivers or ponds
• Migrates: coastlines, mudflats

Diet:

• Insects
• Small crustaceans
• Mollusks

Behavior:

• Long-distance migrant
• Forages on mudflats and beaches

Conservation Status: Least Concern, but monitored due to habitat loss and disturbance.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

• Scientific Name: Ardea herodias
• Length: Up to 3.9-5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters)
• Wingspan: Up to 6.5-7.5 feet (2.0-2.3 meters)
• Weight: 6-8 lbs (2.7-3.6 kg)
• Lifespan: Up to 25 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily fish, but also amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, and small mammals
• Habitat: Freshwater marshes, wetlands, coasts, and shallow waters
• Interesting Fact: Great blue herons are patient predators. They often stand perfectly still for long periods, waiting for prey to come close enough to be snatched with their long, sharp beaks.

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

• Scientific Name: Mergus serrator
• Length: Up to 25 inches (64 cm)
• Wingspan: Up to 37 inches (94 cm)
• Weight: Male: 2-3 lbs (0.9-1.4 kg), Female: 1.5-2 lbs (0.7-0.9 kg)
• Lifespan: Up to 15 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily fish
• Habitat: Freshwater lakes, rivers, and coasts (especially saltwater)
• Interesting Fact: Red-breasted mergansers have a shaggy crest and a serrated bill with tiny saw-like edges. This unique bill helps them catch slippery fish by gripping them firmly.

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)

• Scientific Name: Numenius americanus
• Length: Up to 28 inches (71 cm)
• Wingspan: Up to 56 inches (142 cm)
• Weight: 1.5-3.5 lbs (0.7-1.6 kg)
• Lifespan: Up to 15 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily worms, crustaceans, and insects
• Habitat: Grasslands, prairies, mudflats, and shores
• Interesting Fact: Long-billed curlews have the longest bill of any shorebird in North America. This specialized bill allows them to probe deep into the mud for hidden invertebrates.

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

• Scientific Name: Ardea alba
• Length: Up to 3.5 feet (1.1 meters)
• Wingspan: Up to 6.5 feet (2.0 meters)
• Weight: 2-4 lbs (0.9-1.8 kg)
• Lifespan: 15-20 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily fish, amphibians, reptiles, and crustaceans
• Habitat: Freshwater marshes, wetlands, and coasts
• Interesting Fact: Great egrets have a remarkable ability to stand perfectly still for long periods, waiting for prey to come close enough to spear with their sharp bills.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

• Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalis
• Length: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters)
• Wingspan: Up to 9.5 feet (2.9 meters)
• Weight: 7-10 lbs (3.2-4.5 kg)
• Lifespan: 15-20 years in the wild
• Diet: Primarily fish, but also some crustaceans
• Habitat: Coastlines, beaches, bays, and estuaries
• Interesting Fact: Brown pelicans have a large expandable throat pouch that can hold up to 3 gallons of water! This pouch helps them scoop up fish as they dive headfirst into the water.