Pelagic birding

Pelagic birding is a bit different

Birders heading offshore for a day of pelagic birding fun!

Pelagic birding is not like birding on land. For one thing, to see pelagic birds one must board a boat and go out into the ocean with the birds.

Identifying birds at sea presents some challenges. The boat is moving, the water is moving, the birds are moving! Some pelagic birds naturally approach the boat, others flee. Many of the birds are similarly-colored in black, browns, grays, and whites. Birds at sea rarely present one with prolonged close-range views, the way a bird on land might. Thus, rather than using today's high power optics to study plumage characters, pelagic birders must rely on subtle shape and flight style differences.

Fortunately, your pelagic guides work hard to help you find your target species and explain the identification of these unique birds.

And you never know exactly what you'll see. On the huge Pacific Ocean no bird is guaranteed, but there are a dozen birds you may expect on nearly every trip. Each season has its own specialty birds, too. And the rarities! Even though we know much about what birds to expect at sea, every trip has the potential for a new state record--or even a new record for North America!

Add to the birds you'll see some marine mammals such as whales, porpoises, and dolphins, and occasional fishes and sharks.

---

Why should I attend a pelagic birding trip?

Albatrosses at arm's length: a fun experience you won't forget!

1. It's the only way you're likely to get a good look at a live albatross in North America!
2. You'll finally be able to put check marks in your field guide along side about 20 birds with funny names like fulmars, shearwaters, phalaropes, jaegers, skuas, and auklets!
3. Pelagic trips are fun and addicting!
   

---

If such a pelagic birding trip would appeal to you, please visit The Bird Guide Pelagics web page and choose your trip today!

The Bird Guide, Inc. schedules pelagic birding trips in Oregon, USA Book your Oregon pelagic birding trip today!

Expected Oregon Pelagic Birds

Laysan Albatross (late fall-spring)
Black-footed Albatross (year-round)
Northern Fulmar (early fall-spring)
Pink-footed Shearwater (spring-fall)
Flesh-footed Shearwater (fall)
Buller's Shearwater (fall)
Sooty Shearwater (spring-fall)
Short-tailed Shearwater (fall-winter)
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (spring-fall)
Red Phalarope (spring, fall)
Red-necked Phalarope (spring, fall)
South Polar Skua (fall)
Pomarine Jaeger (spring, fall)
Parasitic Jaeger (spring, fall)
Long-tailed Jaeger (spring, fall)
Black-legged Kittiwake (fall-spring)
Sabine's Gull (spring, fall)
Common Tern (spring)
Arctic Tern (spring, fall)
Common Murre (year-round)
Pigeon Guillemot (year-round)
Cassin's Auklet (year-round)
Marbled Murrelet (year-round)
Ancient Murrelet (late fall, winter)
Rhinoceros Auklet (year-round)
Tufted Puffin (spring-fall)