This is Bird Note.

Although many seabirds utter groans and croaks, the Pigeon Gilamont produces this lovely series of trills and whistles.

Black seabirds with large white wing patches and fire-engine red feet,

pigeon gillamots are native to the North Pacific Ocean

and frequent coastlines from California to Alaska and Russia.

Colonies of four to 100 birds select a rocky cliff, sandy bluff, or artificial structure for their nesting territory.

Then the fun begins.

Pigeon Gilamots perform elaborate courtship rituals to woo their mates.

Like exuberant children, they chase each other, dunk under the water, and appear to play a game of leapfrog or leap duck.

Then a pair will take off from the water and fly side by side in large circles and loops, a perfect synchronized flying act.

Courtship continues until the parents become busy tending their burrows high on the

cliff. Soon after the young fledge, they join their parents on the water, and the whole colony

departs the area. The beach is quiet again until next spring, when the Pigeon Gilamots return and begin their playful

musical courtship anew.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.