My Favorite Places

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Huntington Beach, California

February 21st, 2011

One of my favorite places to go birdwatching in Southern California is Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. It consists of over 1,200 acres of coastal wetlands and chaparral scrub and over a mile of trail that loops through the reserve. A walk through the reserve will allow you to observe native flora and fauna of Southern California. Throughout the year over 300 species birds migrate through or nest in the wetlands including the endangered California Least Tern. The reserve is also habitat for several mammal and reptile species including cottontail rabbits, Beechey ground squirrels, Pacific rattlesnakes, and Western fence lizards. If you find yourself in or near Huntington Beach, California I suggest you visit Bolsa Chica.

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve

Los Angeles County, California

November 21st, 2010

Another one of my favorite places to go birdwatching is Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Van Nuys. The wildlife reserve consists of a 225 acres of riparian habitat,  chaparral scrub and an 11 acre lake. Late fall to early spring is the best time to visit the reserve for the purposes of birdwatching. According to the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserves website over 200 species of birds make migrate through the reserve yearly, many are actually found here year round. I personally have counted over 100 species during my many trips to the reserve. Besides birds you may also see several species of mammals and reptiles including  Beechey ground squirrels, Western fence lizards, and cottontail rabbits. Because of the proximity to my house this reserve is one of my most frequented locations. If you are in the area it is a great place to visit.

Del Rey Lagoon Park

Playa Del Rey, California

February 2011

Another place I love to visit, like Bolsa Chica is also near the coast. Playa Del Rey is a small beach community south of Marina Del Rey. At it's center is Del Rey Lagoon Park with a saltwater lagoon that ebbs and flows with the tide. I like to stroll around the lagoon looking for waterfowl and shorebirds. I then walk along the jetty watching the pelicans and other sea going birds, as well as the many fishermen fishing among the rocks. Occasionally I will walk along the beach path and check out the gulls and, in the right season, the terns who hang out on the sand. During the fall and spring migrations over 200 species of birds have been observed including several endangered and threatened species like the California least tern and the snowy plover. 

Just east of Del Rey Lagoon Park is the Ballona Wetlands which consists of both brackish and freshwater marshes as well as a riparian area. The sensitive estuarine and brackish areas are only open for visitation by appointment or during schedules community events. See the Friends of Ballona website for more details regarding community events or visits. The Freshwater marsh and riparian zone are open to the public. You can enter this portion of the wetlands at the corner of Jefferson and Lincoln east of Playa Del Rey. Since Playa Del Rey and the Ballona Freshwater marsh are so close to LAX, I will often visit here before or after picking up friends or family from the airport.

Nesting Terns at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Sterna antillarum browni

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve

Huntington Beach, California

May 29th, 2010

This weekend I went birding at one of my favorite Southern California locations, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. The reserve is located just east of PCH and is bordered to the north by Warner Avenue and to the south by Seapoint Avenue. The reserve consists of approximately 1,200 acres of wetlands and several miles of trails. It is an amazing place to bird. Historically over 320 species of birds have been spotted here, with many, including terns, plovers, and herons nesting in the reserve. I have personally observed over 50 species between the months of February and May this year alone. If you would like to learn more about the ecological reserve or plan your own birding trip click here.

The California Least Tern (Sterna antillarum browni) is one of three least tern subspecies that breed in North America. All three of which are listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. One of the reasons they are endangered is that they nest along the sandy shoreline and have to compete with humans for territory. As their preferred nesting locations disappear, they have been forced to nest on  flat gravel roofs of building, or in mudflats. Unfortunately these nesting locations are not ideal, a roof can heat up causing tar to seep through the gravel sticking to fledgling birds, and mudflats can make the birds more prone to predation. Additionally, over-crowding of ideal nesting locations can also make the birds more vulnerable to predation. 

Since 1970, when the California Least Tern was listed as an endangered species, conservations efforts have been somewhat successful. The population has grown from 225 nesting pairs to over 6,561 pairs recorded in 2004. Biologists though, are still worried that the distribution of the species is limited and without future management may not be viable. With an increase in public awareness and future conservation efforts maybe these little terns will have a better chance. 

Great Egret Taking Flight

Great Egret Taking Flight

February 15th, 2009

I caught this Egret taking flight early one Sunday morning during the Great Backyard Bird Count. I met up with a few students and one of their families to count birds near Marine Del Rey. I spent several hours, well okay about half the day, counting watching birds at the marina and later at the Ballona Wetlands. The weather was absolutely amazing and made for a great day, for the birds.