South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and the SoCal Salt Works (View only)

This event registration is currently restricted to those waitlisted during October and December 2025.

Due to the popularity of this program, we have made updates to the registration process. The recent government shutdown forced us to cancel events in October and November. The wait list has been closed while we process the combined October and December wait lists. Thank you all for your interest! We hope that these updates are expanding access to the SaltWorks facility to everyone who wants to see this unique place and its birds!

Sunday, January 18, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

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 16 participants.