The swallows of Capistrano are among the most famous migrating birds in the world. For many years they migrated thousands of miles in the spring and fall. They would fly back and forth between San Juan Capistrano in California and their winter home in Argentina, South America.

One day, during their migration to California, a swallow named Sammy decides to have an adventure that will take him far away from his flock. He will also be leaving his good friend, a swallow named Ginger. He tells Ginger he wants to fly west rather than north, over the Pacific Ocean, to visit Hawaii. Sammy then sets out on his own and follows a big cargo ship out into the ocean. The ship will be a place for him to rest during his journey.

Sammy's plans are soon interrupted, however, when he meets another bird on the ship who is in trouble. A big crow named Carl is stranded on the ship and desperate to return to his home in California. Carl does not know how to fly back home over the ocean. Sammy knows he has a big decision to make. The choice he makes in that very instant changes Sammy, Carl and Ginger's lives in a way they will never forget!