World Aquatic Animal Day 2026

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Since 2020, April 3rd marks World Aquatic Animal Day, courtesy of the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative and Animal Law Clinic at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland Oregon.  The initiative focuses on law and policy and general awareness for the protection and preservation of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic birds and more.

I think this is a good occasion to share some of my images of aquatic creatures.  As a northeastern California resident, I certainly see and photograph more of the fresh water variety of such animals but I do occasionally find myself in a coastal environment as well.

While waiting for our boat to depart on a whale watching cruise in Monterrey California, I spotted quite a squabble over one of the buoys in the harbor as several Sea Lions were vying for “King of the Mountain” atop the buoy. I grabbed this shot of the “king” of the moment preparing to ward off the latest invader as we cruised by on our way out into the bay.

California sea lion perched proudly atop a large rust-streaked mooring buoy in Monterey Harbor, California, its glossy dark body catching warm sunlight as it watches a second sea lion rising from the water below. The buoy’s weathered orange and green surface contrasts with the calm blue harbor water, while the alert posture of the sea lion on top hints at an ongoing contest for the prime resting spot.

Later on the same boat ride we were blessed to see a good sized pod of Risso’s dolphins alongside our boat. I captured this frame as one of the majestic creatures came up for a breath. These are fascinating animals, diving to great depths (up to 2000 feet!) in search of prey, such as squid, octopus, and cuttlefish. The “graffiti” you see on the body of this one is scarring that is often caused by fighting with other dolphins and a social interaction known as “teeth raking”.

In 2022, I was fortunate enough to know there was a group of river otters hanging out around a patch of clear water in the mostly frozen part of Lake Almanor near the Highway 36 causeway. I was sitting on the side of the causeway when this “water weasel” came ashore about as close as I want one of the toothy creatures to get to me (although not as close as this may appear as I was using a telephoto lens). I captured this frame right at it emerged from the water in the golden light of the late afternoon.

River otter climbing onto snow-covered shoreline at Lake Almanor in Plumas County, California, its wet fur glowing with warm late-afternoon light. The animal’s whiskered face and dark paw are sharply defined as it moves from icy water toward sunlit rocks, with rich brown tones contrasting against the pale, granular snow. Strong side lighting emphasizes the slick texture of its coat and the alert, purposeful posture as it navigates the winter shoreline.

Of course, far and away the most common aquatic animals I see and photograph are waterfowl. Among those one of my favorites is the western grebe. They are abundant in my “home” waters and I find them quite fascinating, especially their amazing mating rituals.

Early in their mating process they engage in the weed dance or weed ceremony. A prospective pair will dive, grab some aquatic vegetation, raise their bodies high out of the water and gracefully display their find to each other such as these two at Eagle Lake…

Two western grebes facing each other in calm lake water, their long white necks arched together while holding aquatic weeds in their bills, with a clear reflection mirrored below during a summer morning at Eagle Lake in northern California.

Probably the most well known part of their mating process is the rush. A pair (and sometimes two competing males and a female) will run for quite a distance, quite often more than 50 feet, on the surface of the water before diving in unison such as this pair, also on Eagle Lake…

Two Western Grebes rushing across the smooth surface of a lake, bodies lifted upright as they run on the water in perfect parallel motion. Their long necks stretch forward, wings slightly open, and their feet kick up tall splashes of white spray that rise behind them. The warm, low-angle light highlights their black-and-white plumage and casts clear reflections on the calm water below. The scene emphasizes the intensity, height, and energy of their courtship display against a soft blue backdrop.

After the birds pair up they build very sturdy nests from and atop of aquatic reeds where they’ll lay their eggs – up to 7 but generally 2 or 3 – and take turns incubating them, such as this one at a rookery on Antelope Lake…

A Western Grebe sits on a nest built among tall reeds at the edge of Antelope Lake in Plumas County, California, its body settled into a mound of vegetation floating in the shallows. Warm golden morning light illuminates the bird’s red eye, black crown, and white neck as it looks off to the side. Blurred vertical reeds frame the scene, emphasizing the protected, intimate setting of the nest and the grebe’s attentive posture during incubation.

If all goes well, their chicks ultimately hatch and take up residence in the feathers of their parents who keep them safe and fed. Part of this process involved feeding them feathers that the parents either pick up or actually pick from themselves. There’s some dispute over why this happens but it’s fascinating to watch…

A pair of western grebes on a floating reed nest in Antelope Lake, Plumas County, California, with a downy chick nestled into the back feathers of the adult sitting on the nest. The second adult, partially submerged in water, extends its long neck upward to gently offer a feather to the chick in an example of “feather feeding,” a unique behavior among grebes. Early morning light enhances the detail of their black-and-white plumage and the chick’s small beak as it reaches forward. The surrounding shallow water and reeds create a calm, natural setting.

Another amazing local water bird is the American white pelican. With a wingspan often exceeding 9 feet and a body weight of up to 14 pounds, they are impressive to see up close…

An American white pelican begins to lift off from the surface of Eagle Lake near the Gallatin boat ramp in Lassen County, California, its wings spread extremely wide as it runs across the rippling blue water. The bird’s large orange bill and bright feet stand out in the warm late-afternoon light, while splashes trail behind each step. Its broad wings form a straight horizontal line, emphasizing its impressive size and the comical, slightly awkward posture as it pushes into flight.

The pointed horn-like protrusion on this one’s beak is known as a caruncle or nuptial tubercle and indicates that it was photographed in mating season. The caruncle is later shed….

American White Pelican gliding on still, dark blue water in early morning light. The large white bird is reflected in the calm surface, revealing its bright orange bill and the mating-season caruncle protruding from its upper mandible. Soft, diffused light highlights the bird's clean plumage and subtle yellow and orange facial tones. The background is a uniform, moody gray-blue, creating a serene and minimalist composition focused on the pelican’s form and color.

I could go on and on but I’ll close with one of my favorite raptors, the osprey. Very adept at catching fish, with approximately a 70% success rate, they are amazing to watch as they ply their craft in waters all over the world. This one got a bit more than it bargained for as it tried to take a fish my son had already laid claim to at Baum Lake in Shasta County California. The osprey quickly figured out that the fish was harder to lift than expected and dropped it to go find easier prey and the fish was ultimately released after its crazy ride.

I was honored with the People’s Choice Award in the 2022 California Trout “Fish, Water, People” photo contest for this capture.

Close-up action view of an osprey lifting a small trout from the rippled surface of Baum Lake in Shasta County, California. The raptor’s wings sweep upward at the edge of the frame while its talons grip the trout, which is still connected to a thin fishing line. Water droplets scatter around the bird and fish, emphasizing motion and the intensity in the osprey’s focused eyes. The tight crop highlights feather detail, the trout’s silvery body, and the split-second moment before the bird attempts to fly off with its catch.


Thanks for visiting. Get out and enjoy nature!

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