Shorebirds

A trip to the beach is made pleasurable by the soothing rhythm of the ocean, the wind singing through the sand and sea oats, and, by the aerial antics of gulls riding the wind, terns diving into the water, and shorebirds seeming to race the waves to retrieve morsels left behind as the water recedes. All of these creatures are shorebirds – diverse in so many ways, but also dressed in the uniforms of whites, grays, subtle sand colors, and trimmed neatly with black. Their diversity challenges the best of bird watchers, yet fascinates us all.