Transcript Bolsa Chika Wet Lands

Bolsa Chika Wet Lands
By Rudy Padilla
Ecology
• At 1,449 acres, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands
is the largest saltwater marsh between
Monterey Bay and the Tijuana River
Estuary.
• Approximately 5 miles of trails can be
explored from sunrise to sunset.
Plants
• The coastal salt marsh habitat is based by flooding of
low-lying areas at high tide by salt water from the ocean.
• Salt water flows into the wetlands from both Anaheim
Bay and an inlet near Seapoint Ave. Plants often have to
deal with changing levels of water as a result of the
tides.
• This means dead plants and animals are at the base of
the food pyramid, and that the decomposer community is
of utmost importance in this ecosystem.
Animals
• The Bolsa Chica Wetlands are an
important stop as well as nesting grounds
for many flying species!
• Typically any time you visit the wetlands
there will be plenty of birds to observe,
especially when compared with residential
and urban areas.
Bolsa Chika History
• This land abounded with wildlife, supporting now
species such as grizzly bears, bobcats, mule
deer, antelope, American badgers, and long
tailed weasels.
•
This beautiful estuary was home to Native
Americans as far back as 8,000 years
ago. Between 6000 and 3500 B.C. a group of
Native Americans lived in the area that are
believed to be Hokan speaking and ancestors of
the Chumash.
Bolsa Chika Bird Checklist
• Bolsa Chica is one of the premier birding
locations in southern California.This list
includes 186 regularly occurring species.
• In summer, Bolsa Chica has breeding
colonies of different species, including the
largest colony of Elegant Terns in the
USA. In winter, shorebirds and waterbirds
predominate, while terns have migrated
south.
Resources
• The Bolsa Chika contributes to all species living
in the wetlands by providing water and food.
• It is also the best migrating place for all flying
species to migrate to. This list includes 186
regularly occurring species. A supplemental list
includes 116 less frequently seen species,
defined as species that are seen at Bolsa Chica
less often than once per year.