Guest post by Amanda Colbert

Spring in the central Salish Sea is one of my favorite times of year to get out on the water and look for birds. Days are warmer and longer, and the birds can sense that their most productive season is on the horizon. We see shifts in their habitat usage and plumage; some marine birds are preparing to migrate inland to freshwater, while other seabird species are arriving from the open ocean to access food resources and nesting sites here. This time of year often results in an overlap of “expected” species on the water—some choosing to depart later than usual, others arriving early. It’s this exciting unknown that keeps me coming back year after year to see who is overwintering and who is eager to get the breeding season started. Read More from “Birding the Salish Sea: Scoters, Loons & Harlequin Ducks, oh my!”