San Diego Bird Festival
San Diego Bird Festival is a celebration of the wild birds, habitats and people of San Diego County.
Start date: Thursday, February 22 2024.
Schedule:
On Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Marina Village Conference Center
Steve Ellis, Richard Cuthbertson, Denise Riddle
Resource person: Jen Hajj, Festival Coordinator
Location: Marina Village Conference Center | 1936 Quivira, San Diego, CA, 92109
Description:
Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary Batiquitos Lagoon Leaders: Steve Ellis and Richard Cuthbertson are very experienced birders and long-time members of the Palomar Audubon Society. Denise Riddle is also a very experienced birder, who leads a year-round monthly bird count at the Whelan Lake Bird Sanctuary. This field trip is a bus trip, beginning and ending at Marina Village Conference Center. Start time indicates the time the bus plans to depart. Join us for breakfast before your trip! The bus will arrive at approximately 7:30 am. Please arrive early, as the bus will not wait for latecomers.
Originally a private dairy farm owned by the Whelan Family, the lake and surrounding property was donated to preserve it as a private bird sanctuary, and a foundation was set up to manage it. It’s location near to the coast and just south of Camp Pendleton, one of the largest military bases in the US, makes it an attractive home and migration stop-off. It is fed by the San Luis Rey River and an outflow from the local water treatment plant. This favorite birding hot-spot features 78 acres of lake and surrounding hills, and has a bird list of 232 species.
The Batiquitos Lagoon is a coastal wetland and estuary which is typical of the many lagoons found along the coast of San Diego County. Over 600 acres, it’s primarily tidal-influenced and fed by two local creeks. Located between the cities of Encinitas and Carlsbad, the 1.75 mile nature trail and Visitor's Center make it very popular with the locals of the area. 240 species of birds, ducks, shorebirds and raptors makes it one of the most productive birding spots in San Diego County.
If you are coming from North County and want to meet the trip closer to home, we will have an alternative meeting place: PARK & RIDE at I-5/La Costa Avenue Park & Ride, 710 La Costa Ave., Carlsbad, CA., just east of the I-5.
Mandatory membership(s):
- Festival Pass- 12 and under
- Festival Pass- Youth ages 13-18
- Festival Pass- Adult
Available: 3/25
Price: $158.00 Taxes waived
Notes: Hosted by Palomar Audubon Society.
Tags: Land-based
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