Many birds spend their time along the shoreline, which provides the major part of their food, and nest on offshore rocks to provide a safe place for their young to survive the most vulnerable part of their life when they are not old enough to fly away from predators.  Visitors to Point Lobos are blessed with being able to enjoy a variety of beautiful and/or whimsical birds.

The pine trees on Coal Chute Point afford a good view of Great Blue Heron nests from the bench at the Pit on the Granite Point trail. Bird Island and its neighboring offshore rocks give visitors a chance to watch the process from mating to fledging. Pelican Point is a great place to see newly hatched Western Gulls, Brandt’s Cormorants, and Black-crowned Night-Herons. Pelagic Cormorants and our iconic Black Oystercatchers, nest on other parts of the Reserve’s rocky shore.