Birding Outing: South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and South Bay Salt Works

Sunday, February 19, 2023, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and the South Bay Salt Works
Google Maps: South Bay Salt Works, GPS: 32.5998, -117.0921
Leaders: Peter Thomas, and others

The South Bay Salt Works has numerous 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 Audubon docents during the bird non-breeding fall and winter months. We
will learn about the history of the salt works and the process of obtaining salt from nature. We
will look to see birds, including Peregrine Falcon, Gulls, Terns, and Belding’s Savannah
Sparrows, as well as wintering shorebird and duck species. Because of construction and
restoration projects that have recently been started, the routes that we have taken in previous
years are no longer available. This month there will be a single group offered that will walk out
and back on a route that covers the south end of the Salt Works ponds with views to the scrub
areas along the Otay River. Total distance: about 4 miles on flat, easy terrain. N.B. No restrooms.
Participation is capped at 20 registrants.
Directions: Take Highway 5 to Chula Vista and exit on Palomar St. Go west to the T-
intersection at Bay Blvd. and turn left. Drive .3 mile and park on the right outside the gated
fence.

Registration required.