Brown pelicans: Cruising the West Coast waves

The pelicans looked like they were engaged in a high-stakes game of “chicken” with the crashing surf. On a recent road trip down the coasts of Oregon and Northern California, I watched in wonder as lines of brown pelicans cruised low over the ocean — mere inches from the water and directly in the path…

Diving pelicans: Avian missiles with brakes

Diving pelicans are a curious sight: they plunge from the sky like feathered missiles — wings cocked, heads tucked, beaks tracing an approach angle of almost 90 degrees — then hit the ocean in an explosion of wings and water and webbed feet, only to bob back to the surface in an instant, as if…

Jellyfish, over easy

Fried Egg Jellyfish come by their name honestly — each one looks just like an egg that’s been cracked into the water. Here are a few facts about these distinctive creatures.