Santa Cruz County - 2008 Official Traveler's Guide - (Page 15) birds to feed and regain their strength before continuing their journey. Popular with birders, over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds live and migrate through the wetlands, making it an ideal place to watch for feathered creatures. Wildlife displays at the Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center show a diversity of habitats, including the Pajaro River, the Watsonville Sloughs and Pinto Lake. Weekly guided nature walks hosted by the Nature Center are an up-close way to experience the area’s bird population. The Nature Center also offers bi-lingual activities, to appeal to a broader range of visitors. The Pajaro Valley Rivermouth and south county coastal areas are also locations rich with bird life. Track hummingbirds and quail at the Arboretum at UCSC. Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a great place to spot Steller’s jays, egrets, herons and acorn woodpeckers among stately redwood groves. Schwann Lake, adjacent to Twin Lakes State Beach, is also a good location for bird watching. The annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival is another way to learn about the diversity of birds in this region. Held every year in the Watsonville region, the festival explores local as well as nearby birding hotspots with expert guides, special lectures and presentations and full and half-day trips. Visitors from as far away as Canada and the U.K. have helped celebrate the wonders of this amazing ecosystem. For the past two decades, Año Nuevo State Reserve just north of Santa Cruz has generated an increased interest from visitors during the wintertime. This site is the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal, as the males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes. Beginning in December and continuing through March, naturalist-led tours of the reserve bring the opportunity to view these lumbering mammals up close in their natural environment. State parks are a veritable wonderland of nature’s cycles. A tremendous source of pride for locals, a variety of wildlife seasonally flock to these coastal and redwood habitats. Climate is the motivating factor behind the Monarch butterflies’ cyclical migration, as they return to Natural Bridges State Park’s warm coastal habitat year after year where they hibernate for the winter. Each season, the park’s protective eucalyptus grove provides a safe roost and temporary home for over 100,000 butterflies. Over the past decade at Wilder Ranch State Park, agricultural fields have slowly been returning to wetland and riparian habitats complete with native trees and plant species. Birds and hawks nest in habitat that formerly was farmland. Redlegged frogs and other wetland animals have moved into the riparian corridor along Wilder Creek, where dogwood, alder, and willows, planted over a decade ago to help restore the area, have flourished. With an abundance of local history, flora and fauna, it’s no wonder Santa Cruz County has become a destination for viewing the wonders of wildlife. For ideas on how to enjoy local wildlife in Santa Cruz County, see page 76. eco-tourism has gained increased momentum with visitors over the past several years 15 www. s a n t a cr u z co u n ty. t r a v e l http://www.santacruzcounty.travel
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