Rescued birds return home

At the International Bird Rescue facility in Fairfield, Calif., Lauren Adams catches a surf scoter with a net.   (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

International Bird Rescue volunteer Colin Pierce replenishes the food supply inside the rehabilitation cages that house seabirds rescued last month from the beaches of San Francisco Bay.  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Food for the birds being rehabilitated at the International Bird Rescue.  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Volunteers load plastic containers, each carrying a rescued bird, into a van that will bring the animals to the beach for their return home.  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

Bird enthusiasts watch as surf scoters are released back into the wild near Sausalito.  (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)