Wildlife Refuges for Migrating Birds in Bay Area

Don't remember how I got the information about the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, but in 2009 we decided to pay a visit. After paying the entrance fee at the visitor center, suddenly I heard some noise that's not familiar in daily life, a noise of many many birds, while there was not a single bird in sight around the center.

The magic unfolded in the 6 miles auto tour around the Refuge.  Forgive me for not be able to describe the scene of thousands of birds gathering in one place.  (Watch the video at the end of this page and feel it.)  I kept on saying "Holy *&^%" that day, which just reflected how I felt.  All the birds simply moving from one pond to another in big number while talking to each other, somehow the process alone pleased me to no end.




Every year from November to March, the Wildlife Refuges provide winter shelter for the birds migrating from the Arctic. They would go northbound again in the spring to breed. The refuges usually have large space of water for the birds to rest in the night, avoid the danger of been attack by land animals.  The surrounding farmland, all finished harvesting by that time, provide food for the foraging birds.  There are several NWR in the Sac Compound, the other easy access one is Colusa NWR, less than 20 miles away.  There are more refuges dotted among the farmland in California's Central Valley, but we found them harder to reach and may not have much for us to see.  We found Merced NWR, near Merced and Los Banos, is also reliable in terms of number of birds.  All these Refuges have separate duck hunting area and check point, they are not for the purpose of viewing.

These are the photos we took over the last few years, hope they provide some idea of what to expect at the wildlife area.

They form a tight group when first disturbed.

Gradually become smaller groups and fly to different directions.

Greater white-fronted Goose

The lot was totally quiet when we find them on the side of the road.  All sleeping.

Imagine the noise!

This time of the year with all the leaves dropped from the trees, it's very easy to spot the hawks.

The ducks.

And last, the video to properly experience the comotion. The geese got disturbed, got up flying a big circle and resting back to the same water: Snow Geese Winter Migration at Merced NWR.

That's my cheap thrill of National Geo moments, just two hours from home. Yesterday before leaving the geese and ducks for home, one thing came to my mind: I am so rich in life.