Black oystercatchers guard their nest on the Berkeley Marina breakwater. A chick hides behind tailfeathes - click here for a better view of the chick.

These birds don't seem to be bothered by the fact that their nesting area is on the entrance channel to the 1,000 berth Marina.

Total worldwide population of the black oystercatcher was estimated to be only 11,000 in 1989. This and much more black oystercatcher info from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at www.oilspill.state.ak.us/pdf/rnbloy.pdf.

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