Natural History Wanderings

The New York Times reports on winter birds migrating  through California each winter.

Millions of birds migrate through the Golden State each year along the Pacific Flyway, which stretches from Alaska to the tip of South America.

Included in the article is a list of some of the California’s best winter birding hotspots.

• Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, about 80 miles northwest of Sacramento. This is a hot spot for waterfowl, and viewing is best between October and March.

• Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, about 40 miles south of Chico.

• Tijuana Estuary, about 15 miles south of San Diego. The estuary supports 370 species of birds, and guided bird walks are available.

• The Salton Sea, about 50 miles southeast of Palm Springs, is one of the most important Pacific Flyway stops. By January, the wings of more than 400 species of migrating birds form living clouds across crystal clear skies.

• Suisun Marsh, about 50 miles northeast of San Francisco, accounts for more than 10 percent of California’s remaining natural wetlands, and provides habitat to more than 220 bird species.

Read full article at In Winter, California Is for the Birds