Winter a great time to see elephant seals, gray whales, exotic birds in action
Winter is a surprisingly active time for many of the animals that call the Bay Area home. This means that January and February are a great time for adventurous families to hit local trails for some epic wildlife-watching. Many of these hikes are cheap or free and relatively easy for kids of all ages.
Elephant seal guided walks:
The guided elephant seal walks at Año Nuevo State Park, near Pescadero, represent the best landbased wildlife-watching experience in California. The walks cover anywhere from 3 to 4 miles and can last up to 3 hours. From now through late January, you’ll see giant males battling each other for the right to mate. In February and March, you’ll see females birthing and weaning their pups on the dunes. Reservations are required; tickets are $7 per person (under 3 free). http:// bit.ly/ILSVP6.
Snowy plover watch:
The mile of shoreline between Kelly Avenue and Frenchman’s Creek at Half Moon Bay State Beach in Half Moon Bay is one of the wintertime nesting areas for the endangered western snowy plover. Though visitors aren’t allowed to touch (or, really, even go near) these tiny birds, the plovers often burrow into the dunes in plain sight. On particularly active days, park rangers and volunteers will be on hand to share age-appropriate tidbits about the birds with passersby. One such fact gleaned on a recent visit: Fewer than 2,000 animals remain in the Pacific population. http://bit.ly/1kcIwwX.
Wonderful whales:
Gray whales spend the first part of every year migrating from feeding grounds in southeast Alaska to their breeding grounds in Mexico. Along the way, they often stop in the nooks and crannies of the coast in Northern California; they usually are here in mid- to late January. One of the best spots to see the leviathans on their southward journey: Point Reyes National Seashore. From the Lighthouse Visitor Center, descend the 300 steps to the lighthouse itself; on clear days you can spot whales for miles out in the Pacific. http:// www.nps.gov/pore.
Chorus of cranes:
The mixedoak woodlands and wetlands of the Cosumnes River Preserve, located on the eastern edge of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, is a favorite spot for sandhill cranes to stop on their annual migration through California. In January and February, the cranes descend on the area by the thousands and come to roost in treetops toward the end of every day. The 1-mile Lost Slough Wetlands Walk trail offers a great vantage point to see the spectacle. The preserve also has an informative visitor center worth a visit. www. cosumnes.org.