Birdathon Outing: San Elijo Lagoon
04/29/2026 04:00 PM - 06:30 PM PT
Category
Public Programs
Admission
- Free
Location
San Elijo Lagoon
2710 Manchester Ave
Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007
2710 Manchester Ave
Cardiff By The Sea, CA 92007
Summary
Count birds for conservation on this unique outing, part of the 2026 San Diego Birdathon!
Description
Wednesday, April 29
4 - 6:30 PM
San Elijo Lagoon
Count birds for conservation on this unique outing, part of the 2026 San Diego Birdathon!
Birdathon is like a walkathon, except instead of counting miles, you count birds! Teams and individuals pick a day between April 10 - May 10 to get outside in San Diego County and try to identify as many species as possible within 24 hours, while raising funds along the way. All funds received help San Diego Bird Alliance's local conservation, education, and advocacy programs benefitting endangered species like the California Least Tern, Light-footed Ridgway's Rail, and Belding's Savannah Sparrow.
On this 2+ hour outing, we will endeavor to collectively spot as many species as possible at San Elijo Lagoon, with the help of an expert guide. Birdy people of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Through this outing, we hope to spot 40 species and raise $500 for the birds we love. We encourage participants to share this event with friends and family, who can support the team's effort on the team fundraising page.
Birdathon is like a walkathon, except instead of counting miles, you count birds! Teams and individuals pick a day between April 10 - May 10 to get outside in San Diego County and try to identify as many species as possible within 24 hours, while raising funds along the way. All funds received help San Diego Bird Alliance's local conservation, education, and advocacy programs benefitting endangered species like the California Least Tern, Light-footed Ridgway's Rail, and Belding's Savannah Sparrow.
On this 2+ hour outing, we will endeavor to collectively spot as many species as possible at San Elijo Lagoon, with the help of an expert guide. Birdy people of all ages and skill levels are welcome! Through this outing, we hope to spot 40 species and raise $500 for the birds we love. We encourage participants to share this event with friends and family, who can support the team's effort on the team fundraising page.
You can learn more about the 2026 San Diego Birdathon here.
About San Elijo:
From San Diego Parks & Recreation: "San Elijo Lagoon is a peaceful place to enjoy nature. You can run, hike, birdwatch, take photos, or paint. It is one of the largest wetlands in San Diego. The 979-acre reserve is mainly a shallow-water estuary. It is where the Escondido and La Orilla Creeks meet the Pacific Ocean. It also provides a beautiful setting for weddings and special events! ... From sunrise to sunset, you can explore 7 miles of easy-to-moderate trails. You can also hike the quarter-mile Annie’s Canyon Trail, which is a bit harder. The trails pass through different types of nature, like salt marshes, freshwater areas, and shrubs. ... Twice a day, the incoming tides cover much of the landscape with salt water. As the tide goes out, mudflats are exposed, full of invertebrates that provide food for shorebirds and ducks. Freshwater from creeks and storm drains mixes with the saltwater. The plants and animals in this area have adapted to live where land and ocean meet."
2026 Birdathon Outings with SDBA - All Dates
- Robb Field - Saturday April 11, 9am - 12pm
- Santee Lakes - Saturday April 11, 2:30pm - 5:30pm
- Mission Trails - Saturday April 18, 8am - 12pm
- San Elijo Lagoon - Wednesday April 29, 4pm - 6:30pm
- Lake Murray - Thursday May 7, 9am - 12pm