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Best Places For Bird Watching Near Los Angeles

bird watch 610
(credit: Shutterstock)

Birds of a feather flock together. That old adage may be trite, but the words ring true in Southern California where all kinds of birds gather, attracting discerning watchers who like to witness the finest of these species. Many are endangered and therefore should only be captured through the lenses of top notch binoculars and/or premiere cameras. That said, following are five places just a short drive from Los Angeles proper that give the chance to see these beautiful winged creatures in flight as they collectively show off their arial skills to birding enthusiasts of all descriptions.

Andree Clark Bird Refuge<(credit: Debr
(credit: Debra R./Yelp)

Andree Clark Bird Refuge
1400 E. Cabrillo Blvd.
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 564-5418
www.santabarbara.gov

Arguably the most extensive wildlife refuge in Santa Barbara County north of Los Angeles, this 42-acre preserve deserves to be explored by discerning birders. A salt-water marsh, Andree Clark Bird Refuge, saddling up to the Santa Barbara Zoo, boasts a giant lake reconfigured from an estuary that dumps out into the Pacific from East Beach. More than 200 types of birds can be found here, some of which are permanent residents of this lush landscape, and some which are on their way to or from another another destination. Among them are such beauties as mallards, red-winged blackbirds and black-crowned night herons.

coachella
(credit: Kim L./Yelp)

Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Thousand Palms, CA 92276
www.coachellavalleypreserve.org

with more than 20,000 acres of wilderness near Palm Springs, this hot (in all senses of the word) Coachella Valley preserve is ripe for birding and you're bound to find several species. From the great horned owl to the black-throated sparrow, from the American kestrel to the turkey vulture, these kind of winged animals and more have been sighted in this part of Southern California. That said, it is a good thing these birds can fly at whim because this species shares space in this diverse desert refuge with a wide variety of other beasts, among them the sidewinder snake, who may just eat anything that comes into its poisonous path. Luckily for other beasts in the Coachella Valley, his typical meal is made of lizards and rats.

ChannelIslands
(credit: www.nps.gov)

Channel Islands National Park
805) 658-5730
www.nps.gov

The enchanting islands known as The Channel Islands Natural Park can be handily reached from Ventura and offer the chance to experience what is considered to be one of the major seabird breeding areas in this part of the world. Not only that but this is where half of all ashy storm petrels land. Western gulls are also in that much great abundance as are Xantus's murrelets. Meanwhile, if you go to bird watch, check out the western part of the park. That is where you'll spot the California brown pelicans in their breeding place, the only place in the United States to boast this wonder.

Related: Best Places To Walk Your Dog In Los Angeles

Ballona wetlands
(credit: Ballona Wetlands)

Ballona Wetlands
303 Culver Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90293
310.306.5994
www.ballonamarsh.com

The list of bird species At The Ballona Wetlands is quite long. Wth more than 300 bird species picking this plot of watery land to live, there is plenty to see and do if you're a lover of these feathered creatures. At the massive Ballona Wetlands area, birders can seek out such fascinating specimens as the great blue heron and the wandering tattler. In addition, the endangered least tern looks for food for their young at the Freshwater Marsh while, on the jetty where fishing is big, the large-billed Savannah sparrow has been spotted. Elsewhere, parakeets boasting their rose-colored rings and yellow chevrons can often be sighted as well. Expert-led bird walks are held by the Los Angeles Audubon Society and happen in these parts on the third Sunday of every month.

bird estuary
(credit: shutterstock)

San Diego River Estuary
891 Pacific Highway, Suite 114
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 297-7380
www.sandiegoriver.org

Shorebirds flock to this San Diego wonderland where the tide, which gets incrementally lower during the morning, calls for different kinds of feathered friends to come out to play. In general, ducks are around in the winter months, up to and including clapper rail sandpipers, Dunlin, red knot and long-billed curlew. Others on the long list include various kinds of herons, including the majestic great blue.

Related: Best Places for Fall Colors In Los Angeles

Los Angeles freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist and always travels with her pillow. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.

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