Los Banos refuge opens new bird-watching trail

A new trail for bird-watching has opened near Los Banos, and officials have plans to open it annually.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Los Banos Wildlife Area is home to the new trail, which could be a good place to see black phoebes, common yellowthroats, marsh wrens and great egrets.

The Wildlife Conservation Board provided funding for the 2 1/2 miles of paths that wind through six habitat types – seasonal wetlands, old growth riparian, restored riparian, sloughs, managed uplands and irrigated pasture, according to a news release.

At this time of year, birders can also expect to see numerous species of ducks, geese, wading birds and songbirds, according to the department. Each area contains signs in both English and Spanish that feature bird illustrations, which were donated by artist John Muir Laws, the release stated.

The trail is at the northeast corner of the refuge north of Los Banos. The nearest street address is 7985 S. Wolfsen Road in Los Banos, just off off Highway 165. The Salt Slough check station next to the trail has parking and public restrooms.

Access to the trail is free to anyone with a valid hunting, fishing or trapping license. All other visitors 16 years old or older must be in possession of a department “Lands Pass,” available for purchase at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/lands-pass or the department’s sales offices.

Purchased in 1929, the Los Banos Wildlife Area was the first of a series of waterfowl refuges established throughout the state to manage habitat for wintering waterfowl, according to its website. Expanded from its original 3,000 acres, there are about 6,200 acres of wetland habitat that includes lakes, sloughs and managed marsh.

Western pond turtles, raccoons, striped skunks, beaver and muskrats call the land home, as well as more than 200 species of birds.

Just up the road is the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters and Visitors Center, built with $9.8 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money, which was opened to the public in 2011. The center’s address is 7376 S. Wolfsen Road.

The department plans to open the new trail every year on the third weekend in February and remain open through mid-June, according to a news release.

For more information, call the Los Banos Wildlife Area at 209-826-0463.

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Los Banos refuge opens new bird-watching trail."