More than a million snow geese migrate to California each year.
They have been following this same migration pattern,
for millennia.
They come from Russia, Alaska and Canada.
Over 30,000 of them winter at The Salton Sea in Southern California.
It is always disconcerting,
to see thousands of these arctic birdies,
sunning in the desert.
Sandhill cranes from Canada soak up the sun here too.
Cheers to you from the arctic desert birdies~
This little Yellowleg gave me quite a scolding for coming near him!
He may be little, but he’s tough and quite loud, and he stood his ground!
Eventually he settled down with me around.
I understand he feels territorial.
There’s lots of birdies at The Salton Sea,
and a little Yellowleg needs to hold his claim.
Cheers to you from the wintering birds at The Salton Sea~
The Salton Sea near Anza Borrego Desert in Southern California is one of the crucial wetland stops on The Pacific Flyway for birds migrating between Alaska and Latin America.
6 million birds rest here every year. (Snow Geese, Glossy Ibis)
424 different bird species have been counted at The Salton Sea. (Snowy Egret)
San Diego County hosts more than 500 different bird species, more than any other location in the continental United States. (White Pelicans)
The Salton Sea sits 228 feet below sea level, its salinity percentage is greater than The Pacific Ocean, and it is California’s largest lake.
The sea has been steadily evaporating for the past fifteen years, and this evaporation is accelerating due to Southern California’s prolonged drought.
If the sea evaporates, 6 million migratory birds could be brutally affected. (American Avocet)
90% of California wetlands are already gone! (Black-Necked Stilt)
95% of the US population of Eared Grebes rely on The Salton Sea, as well as 90% of White Pelicans, 50% of ruddy ducks, and 40% of Clapper Rails. Several threatened and endangered species also shelter here. (Sand Hill Cranes)
Cheers to you from the millions of beautiful, but at-risk birds at The Salton Sea (Sand Hill Cranes)~
