Huntington Beach is one of the West Coast's best destinations for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
Bolsa Chica Wetlands Ecological Reserve:
Bolsa Chica is a natural treasure amidst the sprawling beaches of Orange County. On a clear day visitors can get a glimpse of Catalina Island from the trails that overlook the more than 1000 acres of wetlands. Being home to 200 species of birds and 50 species of marine life, it is not uncommon to see a great blue heron flying overhead. Improvements are still being implemented to the wetlands, with several rejuvenation and replanting projects currently underway. This valiant effort hopes to attract more of the rare and endangered species of bird that periodically visit Bolsa Chica.
The Bolsa Chica Wetlands Interpretative Center is located at 3482 Warner Ave. and is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Guided tours are free and offered to the public by several local conservation groups. The Amigos de Bolsa Chica tours the first Saturday of each month beginning at 9 a.m., leaving every 15 minutes until 10:30 a.m. The Bolsa Chica Land Trust offers a tour on the third Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. Both tours meet at the reserve's south parking, located on the Pacific Coast Highway, across the street from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach.
Huntington Beach Wetlands and Talbert Marsh:
The 114-acre Huntington Beach Wetlands is located south of Main Street on the Pacific Coast Highway, across from Huntington State Beach. The 25-acre Talbert Marsh is home to the largest colony of nesting California Least terns in North America, in addition to herons, egrets, stilts, pelicans, gulls, cormorants and the rare Belding's Savannah sparrow. A public-access trail through the marsh, which can be used by pedestrians, cyclists and horseback riders, stretches from Brookhurst Street to the Santa Ana River Trail. Guided tours can be arranged by contacting the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy, which owns and maintains the marsh, at 714-963-2123. The wetlands are also home to the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center of Orange County, a non-profit organization that cares for sick, injured or orphaned birds and mammals from throughout the Orange County area. A new home for the center is currently under construction and will feature an educational center.
Huntington Harbour:
Located north of downtown Huntington Beach along the Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Harbour is an excellent place for birdwatchers to enjoy sightings of pelicans, egrets, herons and other water birds. The harbor's beautiful canals can be explored via kayak, electric Duffy boat or a romantic gondola cruise. To rent kayaks, visit OEX Sunset Beach (16910 Pacific Coast Hwy., 562-592-0800) or Sunset Rentals (16862 Pacific Coast Hwy., 562-592-5537). To rent an electric boat, visit Duffy Boats (16732 Pacific Coast Hwy., 562-592-3028). To reserve a gondola cruise, contact Sunset Gondolas (16370 Pacific Coast Hwy., 562-592-3295).
Shipley Nature Center and Huntington Central Park:
The 18-acre Shipley Nature Center is home to dozens of species of birds and animals and more than 4,000 feet of walking trails that wind through several different native California habitats, including oak woodlands, Torrey pines, wildflower meadows and freshwater wetlands. The 1,500-square-foot Interpretative Center features exhibits on local wildlife and ecology and regularly hosts school field trips and other educational programs. The center is located in the western half of Huntington Beach's Central Park, south of Slater Street and west of Golden West Street, at 17829 Golden West St., and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Docent-led tours are offered on Saturdays and are also available by appointment during the week. For more information about the Shipley Nature Center, call 714-842-4772 or visit
www.shipleynature.org. Huntington Central Park also offers excellent viewing for birdwatchers with several miles of paved, walking trails and ponds that host dozens of ducks and geese throughout the year.
When to Visit:
Although a compelling destination year-round for birders, the winter and spring months are the most dramatic seasons in which to visit. The city lies within the famous Pacific Flyway, a corridor extending from Alaska to Patagonia serving as a pathway for millions of migrating birds. During the winter up to 70 different species can be counted in one day.The 2006 spring courtship and nesting season spurned 9,000 pairs of nesting terns to produce 7,000 offspring. Additionally, these months are typically considered off-season, meaning more affordable rates at local hotels and considerably smaller crowds, despite weather that's still sunny, mild and beautiful for a beach vacation. Visibility and air quality is exceptional with clear views extending from Newport Beach to the Long Beach skyline and from the mountains all the way to Catalina Island.