Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Birds & Butterflies
California lies on major migratory routes for over 350 species of birds, which either pass
through the state or linger during winter. It's an essential stop on the migratory Pacific Fly-
way between Alaska and Mexico, and almost half of North America's bird species use the
state's coastal and inland refuges for rest and refueling. Migration peaks during the wetter
winter season, but you can spot an enormous variety of birds year-round at California's
coastal beaches, estuaries, wetlands and bays.
Year-round avian residents along California's coast include gulls, grebes, terns, cormor-
ants, sandpipers and little sanderlings that chase receding waves along the shore, looking
for critters in the freshly turned sand. A few of California's beaches are closed between
March and September to protect endangered western snowy plovers, who lay their eggs in
exposed ground scrapes in the sand. Snowy plovers are easily frightened by humans, dogs
and noisy off-highway vehicles (OHV), which can cause them to run off and abandon their
eggs to burn in the sun.
As you drive along the Big Sur coast, look skyward to spot the largest flying bird in
North America, the endangered California condor, which also soars over Pinnacles Nation-
al Monument and the Los Padres National Forest. Also keep an eye out for regal bald
eagles, which have regained a foothold on the Channel Islands, and sometimes spend their
winters at Big Bear Lake outside LA. The northern spotted owl, today a threatened species
due to destructive logging practices, is protected inside the North Coast's Headwaters
Forest Reserve near Eureka.
Another iconic species that takes flight in coastal California, monarch butterflies are
gorgeous orange creatures that follow amazing long-distance, multi-generational migration
patterns in search of milkweed, their only source of food. Tens of thousands of monarchs
hibernate in coastal California during winter, notably along the Central Coast at Santa
Cruz, Pacific Grove, Pismo Beach and around Santa Barbara.
The Audubon Society's California chapter website (
http://ca.audubon.org
) offers helpful
birding checklists, descriptions of key species statewide and a newsy Pacific Flyway blog
(
www.audublog.org
).
