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Spotted butterfly perches in the middle of a marigold
Checkerspot butterfly on desert marigold
Checkerspot butterfly on desert marigold
Checkerspot butterfly on desert marigold

Checkerspot butterfly on desert marigold in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Checkerspot butterfly on desert marigold in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Aerial view of Lake Cuchuma on a cloudy day, viewed out the window of a plane, under the wing
Clouds over Lake Cachuma
Clouds over Lake Cachuma
Clouds over Lake Cachuma

Clouds over Lake Cachuma.  En route to begin a photographic aerial survey for seabirds and marine mammals off Central California, over the California Current.

Clouds over Lake Cachuma.  En route to begin a photographic aerial survey for seabirds and marine mammals off Central California, over the California Current.

California coast showing a train and spring flowers, viewed from a plane over the ocean
Spring bloom along the coast while conducting a seabird and marine mammal survey
Spring bloom along the coast while conducting a seabird and marine mammal survey
Spring bloom along the coast while conducting a seabird and marine mammal survey

Spring bloom along the coast while conducting a seabird and marine mammal survey.

From under an airplane wing high above the ground, we see green hills, with a rainbow extending down from behind airplane wing
Rainbow captured along the CA coast from a plane
Rainbow captured along the CA coast from a plane
Rainbow captured along the CA coast from a plane

This photo was taken during an aerial photographic survey of seabirds and marine mammals along the California Coast. The project is supported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and helps planning in advance of potential offshore wind energy development along the California Coast.

This photo was taken during an aerial photographic survey of seabirds and marine mammals along the California Coast. The project is supported by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and helps planning in advance of potential offshore wind energy development along the California Coast.

View of the Big Sur California coast from the ocean, with snow capped mountains
Big Sur viewed from a plane above the ocean
Big Sur viewed from a plane above the ocean
Big Sur viewed from a plane above the ocean

Late spring snow on the Santa Lucia Mountains in Big Sur while conducting aerial surveys offshore.

Late spring snow on the Santa Lucia Mountains in Big Sur while conducting aerial surveys offshore.

Aerial view of Cuvier's beaked whale
Cuvier's Beaked Whale
Cuvier's Beaked Whale
Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Aerial image of Cuvier's Beaked Whale.

Aerial image of Cuvier's Beaked Whale.

Oddly shaped, oval fish with wing-like fins, seen at great distance in aerial view
Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)
Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)
Ocean sunfish (Mola mola)

Aerial view of a sunfish (Mola mola).

Western sandpiper, with a grey back and heat and white underside, standing in shallow water, one foot up
Western sandpiper in San Francisco Bay
Western sandpiper in San Francisco Bay
Western sandpiper in San Francisco Bay

A Western sandpiper in San Francisco Bay.

Aerial view of the ocean, with a small dot that is a trash bag
Trash bag in the ocean
Trash bag in the ocean
Trash bag in the ocean

Trash bag in the ocean. Photos capture some of the visible human impacts on the California Current, from trash bags to plastic bottles to mylar balloons and ghost fishing gear.

Trash bag in the ocean. Photos capture some of the visible human impacts on the California Current, from trash bags to plastic bottles to mylar balloons and ghost fishing gear.

Duck with dark head, white neck and breast, and grey body in the water
Northern Pintail Drake at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Northern Pintail Drake at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge
Northern Pintail Drake at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Northern Pintail Drake at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Flock of 7 ducks in the air in a rough V formation
Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

Nine ducks in flight above a grassy area
Flock of northern pintail ducks at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Flock of northern pintail ducks at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Flock of northern pintail ducks at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

Flock of northern pintail flying at Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

Male and female pintail ducks at the water's edge
Hen and drake northern pintail at Colusa NWR
Hen and drake northern pintail at Colusa NWR
Hen and drake northern pintail at Colusa NWR

Hen and drake northern pintail at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Flock of white geese with dark wingtips in flight
Ross’s Goose flight at Colusa NWR
Ross’s Goose flight at Colusa NWR
Flock of white geese at the water's edge with a few ducks
Ross’s Geese on levee at Colusa NWR
Ross’s Geese on levee at Colusa NWR
Ross’s Geese on levee at Colusa NWR

Ross’s Geese (and a few ducks) on levee at Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Learn more about USGS goose and duck research here.

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