Salton Sea Birds

About this spectacle

The Salton Sea in southern California's desert is one of North America's most important birding stops along the Pacific Flyway. Hundreds of species pass through or winter here, including vast flocks of white pelicans, cormorants, egrets, herons, and shorebirds that crowd the shrinking shoreline. The shallow, hyper-saline water glitters under intense desert light while birds wheel overhead in dense formations. In winter, the air fills with the calls of thousands of ducks, geese, and sandpipers. Rare species drawn by the sea's isolation attract serious listers from across the continent. The surrounding desert landscape—pale salt flats, dusty scrub, and wide open sky—gives the birdwatching an otherworldly, almost surreal quality distinct from any coastal refuge.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Nov — Mar

Getting there

Nearest airport: PSP. Nearest city: Indio.

Booking options

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