Things You'll Need:
- Bird watching guide
- Spotting scope or binoculars
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Notebook
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Step 1
Start your California bird watching excursion in one of California's national parks, such as Yosemite. Within the scenic Yosemite National Park birders can potentially view about one fourth of all American bird species. Some of the rarer species of birds in Yosemite include Peregrine Falcons, Great Gray Owl, and the Willow Flycatcher. The meadows of Yosemite are a great place for bird watching. When the day gets warm, head off into the lodge pole pines, firs and mixed conifer forests.
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Step 2
Head up to northern California's Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, which is a complex of six wildlife refuges. The diverse habitats of this 180,000-acre area along the northern border make it internationally known for bird watching. Birders will delight at the prospect of viewing dozens of the over 260 species of birds in a single day. The region's wetlands and marshes are filled with waterfowl during the spring and summer, and the Klamath Basin is the winter home to the largest bald eagle population outside of Alaska.
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Step 3
Journey to San Francisco Bay since it is the largest estuary on the West Coast. During the peak migrating season it offers refuge to over one million waterfowl. The San Francisco Bay area has had sightings of approximately 280 different bird species. Seasonal bird watching in the region is especially rewarding. Look through the information from the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory (see below) before your bird watching trip.
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Step 4
Enjoy one of the top bird watching areas in California at the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. Sightings of over 375 bird species have been made at the southern California refuge and the Imperial Valley area. November to May is the best time for bird watching, since the Salton Sea area provides habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl (see below).
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Step 5
Print out bird checklists and species information. Be sure to plan ahead and explore more than one region of California and enjoy a great bird watching experience.
