Seabird Encounters in Venice Beach: A Jet-Lagged Love Letter to the Coast

I landed in LA a little rumpled, a lot jet-lagged, and in search of something real to cut through the city’s movie-set shimmer. Venice Beach, with its mix of surfers, street art, and patchouli-scented chaos, didn’t disappoint. But what truly stole my attention wasn’t on the boardwalk—it was above it.

The seabirds.

Almost immediately, I spotted a squadron of Brown Pelicans flying in formation over the waves like something out of a World War II film. They’re massive—like feathered submarines with wings—and glide with a kind of prehistoric elegance. I stood on the beach barefoot, watching them dive like they’d done it for centuries. Because, well, they have.

Later, walking along the Venice Pier with an overpriced matcha in hand, I spotted Heermann’s Gulls—sleek grey with red bills, looking far too stylish to be hanging around bins. They mixed with the usual raucous California Gulls, whose cries felt like a soundtrack to the sea breeze and distant skateboards.

Down by the water’s edge, Sanderlings ran like wind-up toys, chasing waves with frenetic energy. It was impossible not to smile watching them skitter across the sand like tiny comedians with very important business. Mixed in were Willets, calmer somehow, as if they’d seen it all before and weren’t about to rush for anyone.

And then, there it was—a Snowy Egret in the shallows. Pure white, impossibly delicate, with those yellow feet like dipped paintbrushes. I watched it dance through the water, fishing with a poise I could only dream of after 11 hours in economy class.

The Venice Canals, just a few blocks inland, offered up a Great Blue Heron, still and solemn like a feathered sentinel. I stood with it for a while. No phones. No people. Just two travelers from different worlds watching the water.

Reflections from the Sand

There’s something grounding about watching seabirds go about their daily lives while yours is temporarily untethered. They reminded me that even in the bright lights and busyness of LA, nature is still quietly doing its thing.

Venice Beach is weird, wonderful, and occasionally overwhelming. But if you slow down, breathe in the salt air, and let your eyes drift upward, you’ll find a whole other kind of performance happening in the sky.

I went for a walk. I found seabirds. And somehow, I found my jet-lagged self, too.

🕊️🌴✈️