Birds of the Baylands

The San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the west coast, and the surrounding wetlands are a habitat for hundreds of diverse species. The marshes are home to many birds adapted to life among the tides and muddy shores. While not having bright plumage, the shorebirds that reside there feature muted patterns and prominent beaks.

In creating this illustration set I spent time by shoreline observing the birds I had found in guidebooks and conservation signs. By imposing a loose geometry of circles and lines, I aimed to keep the distinctive features, poses, and patterns of the species while simplifying and adding structure. While this set is limited in scope, I hope to continue finding interesting species and adding them to the collection.