We decided that, as part of retirement, we were going to be healthy, so we exercise all the time — no sitting around watching the boob-tube for us. Today we went to the Huntington Beach wetlands for a few hours’ walk. Please join us.
The trivia is interesting!
- Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is one of Southern California’s most famous coastal wetlands and sits along Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach.
- The name “Bolsa Chica” means “little pocket” in Spanish.
- Bolsa Chica is a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway, a migration route used by millions of birds traveling between North and South America.
- More than 200 bird species have been observed in the Bolsa Chica wetlands area.
- The wetlands are especially known for birds like great blue herons, snowy egrets, brown pelicans, terns, and endangered California least terns.
- Bolsa Chica was once used for oil production, and remnants of that history can still be seen around the area.
- A major restoration project reconnected parts of Bolsa Chica to the ocean in 2006, allowing tidal flow to return.
- Huntington Beach also has other wetland areas, including parts of the Talbert, Brookhurst, Magnolia, and Newland marshes.
- The wetlands help provide flood protection, filter water, store carbon, and create habitat for wildlife.
- The Bolsa Chica Mesa area has archaeological significance and was used by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years.
- The wetlands are popular for birdwatching, photography, walking, and nature education, but dogs and bicycles are restricted in some sensitive areas.
- Despite being surrounded by urban development, Bolsa Chica remains one of the largest remaining coastal wetland ecosystems in Southern California.
We walked this racetrack many times over the years! It was close to our house, and there was always a breeze!
