Michael Pierson, an Oceanic Society Naturalist, embarks on a singular mission: to find Morris, the only northern gannet in the Pacific, who has vanished after severe winter storms that battered California. Michael, a gay man who was kicked out of his family home due to his sexual orientation, shares a deep, unspoken connection with Morris. Both are far from their original homes, and Michael sees his resilience reflected in Morris's struggle to adapt to an unfamiliar environment.