Ever seen a pelagic bird?

It is probably best to start this story with the definition of “pelagic.” The word refers to things that live in the open ocean. The term is most often associated with animals living in the water, such as fish and mammals, but it can also describe birds that spend almost all of their time off shore, out at sea.

Most people, even fisherman who spend a great deal of time in the open ocean, are unaware of these unique birds. Imagine a bird that rarely ever sets foot on land, only doing so for the brief nesting season!

Since my husband recently acquired his first truly off-shore capable boat, he was ready to test his skills on a long trip in the Gulf. Some of my stalwart birding friends were ready to join him on a second boat — a 250 mile round trip cruise to ” W” Tower just north of the Dry Tortugas.