Totorus

Photo credit by NDomer73

Bird watching has often been confused with ornithology. People who observe and study species of birds in a scientific approach are called ornithologists, while bird watchers do so as a hobby.

With dense forests and the Sierras teeming with plant life, and even the cactuses of Death Valley abound, California is known to be a Birder's Delight for bird watching enthusiasts as it has the right natural habitat for birds. Thus, bird watching is a favorite past time for a lot of people in California.

There are around 600 bird types that inhabit California. No one can ever get bored discovering these species in the place where you can enjoy picturesque scenery. It is no surprise that birds gather in the area as local people make it their responsibility to keep and respect the beauty of nature and its creatures.

If you are really into bird watching, there are a quite a number of places that are recommended for you. One of the most popular is the King Range National Conservation Area. Found in San Francisco, it boasts charming coastal plains, freshwater streams, riverbank spots, and a forest. Woodpeckers, hummingbirds, wild geese and ducks, pelicans, loons, terns, and swifts are just a few of the species that may be found in this conservation.

Another known spot for bird watching is in Sonoma County, which is called Bodega Bay, especially during the months of August, September, and October. It is a busy time for bird watchers as various birds such as terns and sand pipers and other land and shorebirds migrate to that area.

A bird watching enthusiast may also want to check the Sierra Mountains, the area between Nevada and California, which is home to a variety of bird species like the Indigo Buntings, Palm Warblers, Western Bluebirds, Chats, Vireos, and the American Pipits.

And finally, there is the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve which is found in San Bernardino County between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. There are approximately 266 native species of birds that are known to be in that region due to the surrounding greenery, foliage, and desert slopes that have attracted them.

Those mentioned above are just a few of the spots that bird watching enthusiasts can go to. To learn more about other places to visit in California, and check what bird species can be found in that area, one can go online and surf the web for more information.