Birding on California's Northcoast

The Redwood Coast - a naturalist's dream   Home to the world’s tallest trees and endless coastlines, California's northcoast offers year-round birding opportunities. Each season hosts a various selection of species, from a few to tens of thousands.  

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge:  
The refuge has been described as one of the most important areas in the U.S. south of Alaska for the Aleutian cackling geese. The park offers two trails, along the tidal slough and near some of the refuge's best shorebird viewing areas. Birdwalks at Wildlife Refuge 2^nd Sun of the month  Loleta - Guided bird hike with Audubon Society walk leaders. It's free & beginners are welcome. 1020 Ranch Rd.  9am   707.733.5406 http://www.rras.org/home.aspx

Hikshari' Trial Eureka waterfront: 3rd Sun of the month, Audubon guided birdwalk along the Elk River access trail. Meet at Foot of W. Del Norte Street 9am http://www.rras.org/home.aspx

The Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary: At low tide, thousands of shore birds can be seen foraging on the mud flats of Humboldt Bay. While the Sanctuary is populated by birds year round, the largest variety of birds can be seen during Fall and Spring migrations. Loaner binoculars available.  Call 707-826-2359 for more info.

Arcata Marsh Audubon Guided Bird Tour Saturdays 8:30am Klopp Lake, So. I St.  

Friends of the Arcata Marsh Tours rain or shine, Saturdays 2pm Interpretive Center, 569 South G St. Loaner binoculars available.  Call 707-826-2359 for more info.

Prairie Creek Redwoods SP: Redwoods National & State Park System - spotted owl and marbled murrelet.  

Humboldt Lagoons: (Big, Dry, Stone and Freshwater lagoons): Herons, Grebes, Passerines, Common Loons, Surf Scoters, Brown Pelican, Golden-Crowned Kinglets, and occasionally a Bald Eagle.  

Trinidad Area: Trinidad State Beach, Patrick’s Point, Moonstone and Luffenholtz Beach - Gray Jays, Common Murres and Black Oystercatchers, gulls & brown pelicans.  

Humboldt Bay Jetties: (North Jetty and the South Spit on the Pacific Ocean): Red-Necked Grebes, Jaegers, Pelagic Cormorants, Black Turnstones, Wandering Tattlers and Sanderlings.  

Russ Park, Ferndale: You can surround yourself in the solitude of a closed canopy forest with a nature hike in Russ Park, Ferndale's bird sanctuary. Russ Park is a 105-acre preserve with several miles of excellent trails.   

Southern Humboldt Community Park set in the valley of the Eel River between Redwoods and the Lost Coast of northern California.  3.5 miles of interpretive trails; hiking, bird walks, biking, swimming, a disc golf course, a meditation labyrinth and more. Birdwalks at the Community Park are offered the third Sunday morning of each month, weather permitting. No dogs please.

Bigfoot Adventure Academy offers kayaking tours with the chance to see egrets, herons, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, kestrels, harriers, kites, osprey, dunlin, sandpiper, dowitcher, godwit, and willet among many others.  

Redwood Adventures Birding tours are among the many guided tours that Redwood Adventures offers in northern Humboldt County. 

The Fly Off: When the Aleutian cackling geese gather and stock up on resources for their long flight to their Aleutian Island's breeding grounds, in early March, the Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge opens their gates around sunrise for the massive sunrise "fly off." A spectacle to see and hear as flock after flock slowly circle and take off. 

Godwit Days in April: Suitably named after the Godwits that gather throughout Humboldt Bay. Although the featured guests are Godwits, all feathered species are watched and studied in the many tours and workshops that are offered during this week long event.

The Christmas Bird Counts: In December, the area's three coastal Christmas Bird Counts are always among the top 20 in the nation, and the current record for a single party "big-day" effort in Humboldt County alone is 176 species. Contact the Redwood Region Audubon Society for more info on bird counts.