Our lovely Bodega Bay is primarily known to be a whale-watching spot on the California coastline. Bodega Bay is also a key part of Sonoma County bird life.
Sonoma County has terrain that includes Pacific Ocean beaches, healthy marshlands, thick forests, broad meadows, and its location on the Pacific Coast Flyway. Sonoma County supports a wide diversity of resident and migrating birds.
Throughout the county, there are a key set of sites that support local birdlife. Here are some county parks and protected areas known for being avian hot spots.
Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail
Sonoma County Regional Park trails in Bodega Bay offer wonderful opportunities to spot pelagic birds on the water, shorebirds in the mudflats, and waterfowl on the harbor. Head to the trails at Doran Regional Park (loads of shore birds), the Bird Walk Coastal Access Trail (situated beside a coastal saltwater marsh), and Pinnacle Gulch Coastal Access Trail for great birding. This is the closest spot for bird watching for anyone visiting Bodega Bay.
Gualala Point Regional Park
Gualala Point Regional Park
About thirty miles up the coast, where the Gualala River enters the Pacific Ocean, the park attracts numerous species of shorebirds. As you walk across the white sand dunes beside the ocean, you’ll sometimes see huge flocks of birds rise before you, soar into the sky, and then land together in ‘new’ feeding grounds a short distance away.
Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail
Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail
This trail is a birder’s paradise thanks to the unique and complex habitat of Sonoma County’s largest freshwater wetlands. More than two hundred species of birds are known to reside in or feed and rest in the Laguna during migration, including egrets, hawks, sparrows, finches, woodpeckers, and even bald eagles.
Nestled into a valley overlooked by mountains and bordered by fifty miles of shoreline, this huge man-made lake and its beautiful surroundings provide a year-round residence for live-in birds and a great temporary shelter for those passing through. When you’re not birding, visit the fish hatchery, go boating, fish the stocked lake, paddle a canoe, or hike, bike, or canter on more than forty miles of trails.
Located on the Russian River west of Windsor, this park is a nesting spot for great blue herons from January through July. You’re bound to see some of those magnificent birds throughout the year, along with hawks, coots, mallards, hummingbirds, the occasional osprey, and many others.
Spring Lake Regional Park
Spring Lake Regional Park
Located on the outskirts of Santa Rosa, the park’s generous size and huge freshwater lake attracts diverse bird species, especially during migration. You may see a variety of geese, egrets, herons, hawks, woodpeckers, owls, jays, warblers, sparrows, and many more species.
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Situated along the Pacific Flyway, the Refuge and its estuary provide an important wintering area for west coast migrating waterfowl. Among the denizens, both year-round and transitory: American white pelican, Northern harrier, American wigeon, Peregrine falcon, Ring-necked pheasant, Greater yellowlegs, Red-necked phalarope, Least tern, Western burrowing owl, and the Song sparrow.
Tolay Lake is prime habitat for hawks, eagles, owls, white-tailed kites, and many other birds. Park access is through a day-use permit program, guided hikes, and the annual Tolay Fall Festival.
Trione-Annadel State Park
Owls in Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa
With nearly 5,000 acres of rolling hills, trees, grasslands, and plains – all of it mostly untouched – wildlife thrives at Trione-Annadel and bird sightings are plentiful.
We welcome you to come explore the wonders of the Sonoma County birdlife with its many unique experiences.
