South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and the SoCal Salt Works

This event registration will open at 8:00 am on September 28, 2025.

Due to the popularity of this program, we have made updates to the registration process. Event registrations will open 3 weeks prior to the date of the outing. Stay tuned for announcements on our instagram! If you register and are wait listed, you will receive priority access to the next upcoming registration. Thank you all for your interest! We hope that these updates will expand access to the SaltWorks facility to everyone who wants to see this unique place and its birds!

Sunday, October 12, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and the SoCal Salt Works

Google Maps: South Bay Salt Works, GPS: 32.5998, -117.0921

Leaders: Andrew Newmark, Dan Jehl, John Martin, and Peter Thomas

The SoCal Salt Works and the South Bay Wildlife Refuge consists  of a series of salt ponds used to extract salt from seawater by evaporation. This area is normally closed to the public, except for once-per-month guided walks led by San Diego Bird Alliance docents during the bird non-breeding fall and winter months. We will discuss the history of the salt works and the process of obtaining salt from nature, while seeking visiting wintering shorebirds, gulls, terns, and duck species. Perhaps our famous Little Stint may have returned. No restrooms. Capped at 18 participants.