The snowy egrets are back. One of the Bay Area’s most sublime natural wonders, hundreds of egrets and great blue herons are courting and nesting in the treetops of the Audubon Canyon Ranch, in West Marin. If you’ve never seen these magnificent birds up close, now’s your chance.
Tucked in a sylvan dell abutting Bolinas Lagoon, a mere 30 minutes from the Golden Gate, the ranch protects a stand of old-growth redwoods that the birds colonize each spring. The scene is mesmerizing. Fog evanesces and twirls through the branches. Chirping choruses echo through the canyon. The smell of salt air and bay-laurel perfumes the breeze.
Easy hiking trails wend up forested hillsides to viewing platforms at eye level with the birds. Binoculars on tripods give you a close-up look, while naturalists provide backstory. The heronry is particularly exciting at low tide, when the lagoon’s mudflats are exposed. The giant birds swoop back and forth between the treetops and the flats to carry food to the chicks, and as they alight at their nests, the chicks stretch their long necks skyward, mouths open wide—a thrilling sight.
For the optimal experience, plan to picnic on the sun-dappled lawns beneath the towering trees. And leave time to explore the small museum, which chronicles area history and ecology, as well as how the ranch helped save West Marin from development. The ranch is open only on weekends and holidays, or by appointment, through July 13. Suggested donation $10.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:36 PM
We went to the Audubon Canyon Ranch yesterday. (April 13) What a beautiful day and a great tip. We saw about 20 egrets. It was fun to see them flying back and forth from the lagoon to the treetops bringing back nesting material. You probably won’t see any chicks for a month or two. The suggested donation was $15. Be sure and head out of Stinson Beach early if you want to miss the traffic. That one stop sign in town really backs up the traffic!
April 20th, 2010 at 11:52 AM
[...] newborn snowy egrets in the treetops of the Audubon Canyon Ranch. One of the Bay Area’s most sublime natural wonders, hundreds of egrets and great blue herons are [...]
April 28th, 2010 at 9:47 PM
[...] a weekend daytrip to Marin before July 12th to see newborn Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons at Audubon Canyon Ranch, in West Marin. After Sunday, July 12, the ranch closes for summer, so the fledgling birds can find [...]