Birding Outings: South San Diego Bay Wildlife Refuge and the South Bay Salt Works
Sunday, November 20, 2022, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
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 Sparrow, as well as returning to winter 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. Two
groups are now offered. Group A 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: 4 miles/ 3 hours on flat, easy terrain. Group B.) will follow a route that covers
much the same route of the A group walk, but also will venture to the border of the open
South San Diego Bay to view the birds that are there. Total distance: about 5 miles/4
hours. N.B. No restrooms. Participation is capped at 12 participants for each of the 2
groups. Register for either the A group, or the B group.
