You may not be fascinated by birds, or even notice them, but there are lots of people in California who are watching, photographing and counting the annual migrations of birds this spring. A handful of men have taken up residence for several weeks on the sidewalk at a park not far from where I live, sporting huge telephoto lenses on their Canon cameras, and watching patiently to photograph one nest of birds. Way up in a eucalyptus tree is the springtime home of a family of red-tailed hawks that have a nest with chicks that have hatched. It has become a source of entertainment for these guys who hope to capture award-winning photos.

At the Bolsa Chica wetlands not far from where I live, the volunteer counters have been busy making note of the species and populations of specific birds that are important because of their status as endangered or rare. They even build little cages and number them like hotel rooms for the terns to protect their nests from coyotes and other predators. Right now the terns are flying in massive white clouds around the wetlands as the youngsters have hatched and learned to fly. Around mid-June, nearly all the terns are gone and won't be seen again till fall. Among the populations that are endangered, the California Least tern is particularly vulnerable.

The Least terns primary nesting grounds range from Moss Landing on the Central Coast California to Baja Mexico. They nest near or on beaches, which explains why their populations have dwindled, much like the snowy plovers seen along the Central Coast sand dunes and elsewhere.

If you want to take up birding, it's relatively easy. Just look online for a field guide with pictures of birds, or pick one up at a sports supply store. Tour guides provide wetlands and birding tours throughout California and will help you become familiar with specific birds you can begin recognizing. You can even report your bird sightings once you become familiar with the birds to watch. A Committee of Western Field Ornithologists (WFO) has online reporting capabilities: californiabirds.org