Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Sanderlings in the Surf

Sanderlings are ubiquitous across the globe's shorelines and are one of my favorite birds. Their movement and plucky spirit are delightful. When I took this photo, I was a country kid living in New York City and my reconnection to nature came in the form of birding on NYC's famous Rockaway beaches. Having grown up in a landlocked state, the ocean opened up a whole new world of animals I'd never seen before. I spent hours watching flocks of sanderlings run, feed, and fly around in magnificent, chaotic unity.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: New York, United States of America
Copyright: © Brian Hoffman