The Black Oystercatcher is one of our favorite shoreline birds, with its black body and bright orange beak. The bird has long been a focus for conservation, and its recent designation as climate endangered in Audubon research has heightened concern. But as a recent Bay Nature article shows, the story of the Black Oystercatcher isn't as gloomy as one might think. We're learning a great deal about the bird, thanks to a massive effort from volunteers up and down the coast, and what we're learning gives us hope.

As Audubon California Marine Program Director Anna Weinstein says in the article, "“They have a chance. These birds are tough, they’re survivors that chase away predators such as ravens and red-tailed hawks, and I have a sense that they will prevail and adapt to climate change. They are a bird for today’s world.”