Birds clearly find San Diego a paradise, which of course makes it a paradise for those who wish to observe them. More than 480 different species are found in San Diego County, more than in any other county in the United States. The Pacific Flyway is a haven for birds, and the Pacific Coast is a great place to spot a scenic bird.
The Chula Vista Nature Center at Sweetwater Marsh is one of the best places for bird watching. The refuge has recorded about 200 bird species, including rare ones like the western snowy plover, the light-footed clapper rail and the least tern, as well as predatory species like the American peregrine falcon and northern harrier. Palmer's Frankenia, a rare salt marsh plant, can also be found here. Located on Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge on San Diego Bay, the center includes an observation tower, guided nature walks that provide an opportunity to view hundreds of plants and animals native to San Diego Bay and the surrounding wetlands, and an aviary with shore birds and raptors.
The Nature Center provides visitors with interpretive and interactive exhibits explaining the marsh habitat, self-guided environmental education programs, guided nature and bird walks, a shark and ray exhibit, and the opportunity to view native birds in outdoor aviaries that support burrowing owls, shorebirds, egrets and herons. Aviary dwellers are all birds that cannot be released back into their native habitats.
The South Bay is a great place for bird watching, supporting numerous endangered and threatened species of plants and animals and is a vital link to other wildlife areas. Rare eel grass beds, thousands of resident and over-wintering waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds and the largest contiguous mud-flat in southern California make this refuge a supermarket for avifauna, and an important stop on the Pacific Flyway.
Kendall-Frost Marsh is another bird-watching gem. Its 25-acres in Mission Bay are a great place to spot large-billed savannah sparrows, skimmers, shorebirds, and brants.
In addition, Torrey Pines State Reserve (aka Black's Beach) north of La Jolla is a protected habitat for thrashers, swifts, woodpeckers, and wren tits.
Bird Watching Resources
- • San Diego Audubon Society: www.sandiegoaudubon.org
- • California Bird Watching Guide: www.birding.com/wheretobird/california
- • San Diego Bird Watching Festival: www.julianbirdwatching.com
