Catalina Island's Wildlife

Santa Catalina Island might be the most famous of the Channel Islands, an archipelago that lies around thirty miles off the coast of Southern California.   Its only incorporated city is Avalon, where the vast majority of the island's 4,000 residents live.  Most of the rest of the island is primitive and undeveloped, an untouched 75 square mile landscape protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy.  A number of endemic species (i.e. found nowhere else in the world), like the Catalina Island fox, benefit from this management.

But for the first-time visitor like me, Avalon and its surrounding hills, canyons and coastline might be the only wildlife habitat explored on Catalina.   Shorebirds, especially gulls, thrive in the crowded seaport.  Mockingbirds and warblers populate many of the non-native  trees in town.  The sea just beyond any beach seems to teem with kelp and fish, a wonderland for exploring snorkelers and divers.   And arriving via ship, the most popular way to visit, guarantees some stunning views and unique encounters with even more of the surrounding Pacific Ocean's abundant wildlife.

Morning view of Catalina Island's southeast end as seen from the sea.

Morning view of Avalon and its harbor on Catalina Island as seen from the Emerald Princess cruise ship.

Gulls on the deck of the Emerald Princess.

Osprey on a flagpole near Avalon's harbor.

A falconer's Harris' hawk, along Avalon Harbor's promenade.  These captive birds of prey feed on numerous rock pigeons that crowd the port.

Yellow-rumped warbler in Avalon.

Acorn woodpecker in a palm tree in Avalon.  I was surprised to learn that this mountain and woods loving bird of Arizona also enjoys the Mediterranean climate along California's coastline.

Female hummingbird (most likely an Anna's) and a bird of paradise bloom in Avalon.

Raven in a palm tree in Avalon.

Kelp in the sea near the Avalon harbor.

A sign along the shore's promenade indicating the types of popular sea life.

Garibaldi fish with several other fish as seen through the water from a pier in Avalon.

Western grebe and a buoy near Avalon's harbor.

Crabs along the coastline near Avalon.

Brown pelican with gull.

Brown pelican with gull.

Cormorant.

Type of sandpiper combing the rocks near the surf in Avalon.

Canyon view of Catalina and the Botanical Garden from the Wrigley Memorial.

Avalon and the Catalina coastline.

Common dolphin off the coast of Catalina.

Common dolphins off the coast of Catalina.

Common dolphins off the coast of Catalina, and an example of the abundant wildlife in the Pacific Ocean.