A Notable Occurrence of Pacific Divers
Journal
Condor
Volume
17
Issue
5 (September-October)
Year
1915
Pages
205
Section
From Field and Study
Online Text
A Notable Occurrence of Pacific Divers
On the 13th of April, 1915, during the prevalence of a strong west wind at Santa Cruz Island, I came upon a company of at least 200 Pacific Loons (Gavia pacifica) breasting the storm and fishing in the outer surf just off a bold cliff near the West ranch. Fully half of the birds were in spring plumage, and they afforded a magnificent spectacle, something in the nature of a naval review, as they rode bow on to the weather or else submarined in relays after smelt. The fleet of divers turned watchful periscopes toward the skyline, and I was obliged to retire behind a parapet of grass before they would relax their vigilance.
W. Leon Dawson
Santa Barbara, California
