The Salton Sea is a magnificent place! The 35 mile long desert sea is a refuge for approximately 400 species of birds. Thousands and thousands of birds spend the winter months here.
During its heyday, it was a hot spot for entertainers such at the "Rat Pack" and people filled the lake with fishing and boating. Now, however, it is a place in danger of disappearing.
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| Black-necked Stilts |
When we first moved to Idyllwild, there were many local people who did not know of its importance to migrating and wintering birds. Fortunately, we visited this place with a local birding group in our first year and discovered for ourselves a wonderful bird sanctuary north of the Mexican border.
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| Green Heron |
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| Red-breasted Mergansers |
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| Sage Thrasher |
When you are able to see a bird in its summer breeding home and then see it again in its winter residence, you really appreciate what these birds need to do to survive. This photo is of a Sage Thrasher that we saw north of where we live in the Eastern Sierra mountains near Independence this past summer.
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| Sage Thrasher |
Last week, we visited the Salton Sea and saw a handful of Sage Thrashers. This one was found in a palm tree. The connection of summer and winter homes is dramatic when you see the same species of birds in two totally different homes. Saving both habitats IS important!
Imagine seeing thousands of birds flying overhead or in a nearby field or hundreds foraging in a field. (BTW, I know I need to work on my movie skills! ha)
If you want to see experience this special place, you need to go now. Every year, the water level will be lessening due to water diversion to other cities including San Diego.
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| Burrowing Owls |
Not all birds will be impacted, but no species is greater than another. Just like humans, we should all be valued equally. We need a miraculous event to turn things around. Projects for saving as much habitat as possible are being discussed/planned but unless something BIG happens, the Salton Sea will start shrinking dramatically this year.
In the short time that we have lived here, we have fallen in love with this special place! Let's do what what we can individually and collectively to minimize the loss for wildlife and ourselves where ever we live. Many of our "patches" in the world are struggling.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Photos and content by Robin Roberts.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Photos and content by Robin Roberts.
