Fauna

Rich diversity of animal life

The mosaic of habitats at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve supports more than 23 species of fish, 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, 24 species of mammals, and 296 species of birds (of which 65 have been documented to nest at the Reserve).

Birds

It is no wonder that the San Elijo Laoon is a birding hot spot in San Diego and Southern California, as the Reserve supports a stunning diversity of bird life. Bird watchers from around the country and indeed the world flock to San Elijo Lagoon to marvel at its avian abundance.

Bird use at San Elijo Lagoon has been one of the most studied biological elements of the lagoon and reserve and, due to abundance, variety, and high visibility, the component most noticed by the public. More than 319 species have been recorded at San Elijo Lagoon and Cardiff State Beach. Over 106 of these species are rare to uncommon migrants, and 74 are considered sensitive, threatened or endangered species, including 16 of the 65 nesting species. Additional migrant species potentially occur, particularly offshore. Numbers of individual birds range into the thousands when considering migratory shorebirds and waterfowl, into the hundreds for pelicans and cormorants, coots, gulls, terns, swallows, warblers, and sparrows. Such numbers and diversity are attributable to geographic/physical factors of location, variety of habitats and ecotones, and variety and abundance of food items.

The mild climate of San Elijo accommodates large numbers and varieties of birds. Resident species, transient migrating species en route between lower latitude wintering grounds and higher latitude breeding grounds, wintering species migrating from elsewhere, and breeding species that winter elsewhere can be found during the year. The coastal location and maritime influence on weather, varied topography and soils, estuarine influence of both fresh and salt waters create a diverse assemblage of plant types and habitats. These habitats, in turn, provide a wide variety and abundance of food items such as submerged vegetation, seeds and flowers, benthic invertebrates, fish, aquatic and surface dwelling invertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, small and large mammals, and the remains left thereof, allowing a vast array of niches to be exploited.

Urbanization of Southern California has resulted in loss of habitat and habitat degradation. Accumulation of toxins from past and current industrial and agricultural products, including continued use elsewhere of chemicals banned in the U.S., together with historic, and, in some cases, continued hunting and persecution, have produced endangered species. Several sensitive, threatened, and endangered species rely on San Elijo. More than 105 species of concern have been documented at San Elijo, including 33 of the 81 to 93 species that breed around the lagoon. The federally endangered brown pelican roosts and feeds regularly in the lagoon, the light-footed clapper rail is resident, and the least tern nests, forages, and roosts around the lagoon each summer. Least Bell's vireo presence has increased in recent years with nesting along Escondido Creek. The federally threatened snowy plover, California gnatcatcher, and state endangered Belding's savannah sparrow nest and are present throughout the year. The recently delisted peregrine falcon is a regular visitor. Bald eagles and willow flycatchers forage in the Reserve occasionally. In the past, wood stork, black rail, sandhill crane, and bank swallow have been documented in the lagoon, and cactus wrens were once abundant in adjacent sage scrub.

To better document current bird use of the lagoon, monthly bird counts are conducted by volunteers of the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy.

You can download a checklist of the birds of San Elijo Lagoon and the adjecent shoreline here.

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Mammals

More detailed information on the Reserve's mammalian inhabitants will be added here shortly. Please check back soon.

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Reptiles and amphibians

More detailed information on the reptiles and amphibians found at the Reserve will be added here shortly. Please check back soon.

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Fish

More detailed information on the fish found at the Reserve will be added here shortly. Please check back soon.

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Insects

More detailed information on the Reserve's insects will be added here shortly. Please check back soon.

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