This is Bird Note.

Stand on a rocky headland above the turbulence of the tidal surge flowing like a river.

Loose groups of red-throated loons in flight, perhaps a thousand altogether streamed past.

The tide is turned at Deception Pass

at the north end of Woodby Island in Washington State.

The loons gather here in winter.

The once-great salmon and steelhead rivers

still carry nutrients from the Cascade Mountains to feed the marine life of northern Puget Sound.

In some years, forage fish such as surf smelt abound.

They're caught in the irresistible tug of the tide, pulled out to sea through the granite defile of the pass.

The loons fly to the throat of the pass

and feast as the current carries them down.

The loon's name derives from the old Norse word for lame.

Because their feet are so far back on their bodies,

the birds cannot walk on land,

but in flight they're graceful,

and underwater swift in pursuit.

Some creatures with which we share the world have been diminished almost to disappearance,

but if we look, we can still find great natural abundance, as we have today.

For Bird Note, I'm Michael Stein.