Merced County wildlife refuges become winter haven for ducks, geese. Take a look

The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge will serve as home to various species of migratory birds who make the annual trek, with some of them traveling thousands of miles.

According to Jack Sparks, outdoor recreation planner with the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the refuge currently has a number of Lesser Sandhill Crane that have migrated to the wetlands. Sparks said the cranes typically begin arriving at the refuge about mid-September and the area can hold about 15,000 of the birds annually.

The birds are coming from Alaska where their breeding grounds are located, Sparks said. “They’re pretty predictable to see around the auto tour routes of our refuges. They’re big birds so very charismatic.”

The wetlands will also serve as home to various species of ducks. Sparks said there are mallards that will breed in the area and some Northern Shovelers have begun arriving from the northern part of the country.

“In the coming weeks, the Cinnamon Teal and Green-winged teal will be moving in,” said Sparks. “Green-winged teal tend to be one of the most numerous ducks here in the grasslands of Merced County.”

Additionally, the Northern pintails are expected to be arriving at the refuge soon, according to Sparks.

The refuge is currently serving as home to a lot of shore birds and wading birds at this time. This includes birds such as the Black-Necked Stilt, which according to Sparks, is another charismatic bird easily identified by its long legs and markings that make it look like it’s wearing a tuxedo.

Also at the refuge are White-faced Ibis, a wading bird with unique plumage almost making the bird look as though it was dipped in oil, according to Sparks.

“It has almost an iridescent sheen to it and then their bill is a very long bill that curves downward,” said Sparks. The bill is used to probe down into the mud while searching for invertebrates and bugs.

According to Sparks, visitors looking to see the arctic nesting Ross’s and Snow Geese can expect to see the birds at the refuge in the coming weeks. Currently at the refuge are the Greater white-fronted geese.

“They’re a darker goose, another common name for the Greater white-fronted goose is the speckled-belly and they’re pretty visible right now,” Sparks said.

Across the refuge complex, there are more than 300 species of migratory birds that use the complex throughout the year, according to Sparks.

“We will typically hold the birds throughout the winter and then they’ll start, kind of the way they trickle in–they’ll also trickle out,” said Sparks. “We’ll see that starting typically around early to mid March. And then from say March through April they’re on their way out. By the time we get into late April, we’re more in the summer season. The wintering migratory birds have pretty much all moved on back up north to breeding grounds by then.”

According to Sparks, there are multiple opportunities for public to view not only the migratory birds, but also other wildlife at both the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge which are both located in Merced County.

Both of the refuges offer automobile tour routes allowing visitors to drive their vehicle around designated and strategically placed areas of the refuge where they are likely to encounter wildlife and allowing for good views of the wildlife as well as vistas.

“On the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge we have a waterfowl auto tour route which is an 8½-mile drive,” said Sparks. “It basically meanders right through the middle of the area where we have a lot of flooded wetlands. So the public can drive through, it’s almost like driving through on a safari and you can pause your car put a set of binoculars or spotting scope up and just peer into the wetlands and view the wildlife.”

Additionally, the refuge has a five-mile auto tour route which follows the perimeter of an 800-acre Tule Elk enclosure. According to Sparks, there is also a five-mile long auto tour rout at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge allowing for great up close views of the wildlife. Visitors can also explore several walking trails at both of the refuges.

“On the San Luis refuge we have the visitors center with the exhibit hall which is always fun for people to come in and explore and learn about the refuge,” said Sparks. The building contains exhibits about various wildlife and also provides visitors an opportunity to interact with refuge staff.

The refuge routinely sees an increase in the number of visitors when the migratory birds make their way to the area, Sparks said. “Our busy season for visitors coincides with the migratory bird season,” he said. “Very much like the migratory birds sort of trickle in, we start getting a ramp up to visitation that starts usually in early October and then we’ll hit sort of our peak visitation in December, January, February (and) March.”

Sparks said as the birds are leaving the area by about April, visitation begins to decline leading into the summer months.

Sparks said that often times when visiting classrooms and asking children where they would go to view wildlife they respond by saying places like Africa and South America. In total, across the Merced County refuges and including state wildlife areas and public lands, about 1½ million ducks and geese will make the trip to spend the winter.

“It’s really special,” said Sparks. “That doesn’t occur everywhere, that’s something that occurs here because this place is special.”

The refuges are open 365 days out of the years. Admission is free. The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge visitors center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m..

This story was originally published October 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM.