Avian Studies

The marshes, floodplains, and riparian corridors (areas along streams and rivers) of the Bay-Delta are key wintering destinations for migratory waterbirds and serve as a crucial stopover on the Pacific Flyway (a major north-south route for birds, extending from Alaska to the tip of South America). The mosaic of wetland habitat types within the Bay-Delta is essential for the millions of shorebirds...

The San Francisco Bay estuary contains the largest remaining expanse of tidal salt marshes in the western U.S. These marshes are home to a variety of federal and state protected species, such as the California clapper rail, California black rail, and the salt marsh harvest mouse. The estuary is also located on the Pacific Flyway, and is an important site for migrating and wintering birds. As clima