Many species nest in large colonies on remote cliffs or islands. Seabirds spend most of their time on the ocean, primarily coming to land to breed. Large numbers of birds congregate offshore, feeding on a plentiful supply of small fish, squid, krill and plankton. Most are seasonal visitors and undertake long, annual migrations to reach Monterey Bay's rich feeding grounds, arriving here in the winter from Chile, New Zealand, Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska. The fertile waters of the sanctuary are globally important to a variety of seabirds.
