Winter Waterfowl at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh

'Tis the season for many things, but don't forget about our feathered friends from near and far that flock to the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve during the winter months to rest, feed and prepare for the coming spring nesting season.

Constructed 15 years ago to manage rainfall runoff from the Playa Vista development and Westchester, the Ballona Freshwater Marsh blossomed into one of the best locations in the West Los Angeles area for watching waterfowl and other birds. The Freshwater Marsh has a level walking path surrounding it on the north and east, along Lincoln and Jefferson Boulevards. Parking access is on the south side of Jefferson Blvd., just west of Lincoln Blvd. The Big Blue Bus No. 3 will get you there from points north and south for a buck and a quarter. Bring a leash for your dogs, if you have them.

Above: The Ballona Freshwater Marsh. Constructed in 2003, the 26-acre marsh is accessible from a walking path along Jefferson and Lincoln Boulevards.

The Ballona Freshwater Marsh lands were originally high tidal marsh, a part of the historical Ballona Wetlands that were later diked and cultivated for lima beans and celery. Bulldozers reshaped the land, native marsh vegetation was planted and fresh water supplied by runoff from Westchester and Playa Vista. Fifteen years later, the marsh is home to 31 breeding bird species, and over 200 species have been observed there. You can see a 1968 photograph of the old celery fields, where the Freshwater Marsh now stands, by clicking this Link.

I know it's really winter when I see the Northern Shovelers in the Freshwater Marsh. They are rather large ducks with relatively long bills adapted to filter out tiny crustaceans and seeds from the water. They leave in the spring and head back to the northern U.S. and Canada to breed.

Above: A male and female Northern Shoveler, joined by a male Cinnamon Teal (center), at the Ballona Freshwater Marsh this week (December 2018). Photo by Don Sterba.

The Hooded Merganser also only comes to Ballona in the winter. Hooded Mergansers dive to catch aquatic insects, crayfish and small fish. Males court females by showing off their white, sail-like crests and making unique calls.

Above: A male Hooded Merganser in its breeding plumage. Photo by Don Sterba.

Ruddy Ducks are year-round residents at the Freshwater Marsh, and as they near mating season, the males turn color, showing off their brilliant powder blue bills. They noisily slap the water to attract a female.

Above: A male Ruddy Duck. Photo by Don Sterba.

Nearly 45 million Americans count themselves as "bird watchers". According to the Outdoor Industry Association, people spend over $30 billion every year in the U.S. on "wildlife watching", a category predominated by bird watching. Why so many and so much?

The simple answer is that everyone can go bird watching. You don't need to be athletic, nor do you require highly specialized equipment or training. A decent set of binoculars, a local bird identification guide and, voila! You're an instant bird watcher!

You can get started bird watching by participating in one of Friends of Ballona Wetlands' regularly scheduled tours at either the Ballona Freshwater or Saltwater Marsh. They will even loan you binoculars and a birding guide. Visit this >Friends Link for a schedule of Friends of Ballona Wetlands public tours.

Los Angeles Audubon also hosts Ballona Bird Walks every 1st Saturday of the month. See this > Link for details.

My thanks to Don Sterba for the great photographs. Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!

References

1. 2014. Ballona Freshwater Wetlands. Report of Monitoring, Operation and Maintenance. October 1, 2012-September 30, 2013. Prepared for: Ballona Wetlands Conservancy, 6500 Seabluff Drive, Playa Vista, CA 90094.

2. All About Birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.allaboutbirds.org

3. 2017. The Outdoor Recreation Economy. Outdoor Industry Association. https://outdoorindustry.org/wp...

4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Birds, Bird Watching and the U.S. Economy. https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird...

5. Friends of Ballona Wetlands. Fall 2018 Schedule of activities. http://www.ballonafriends.org/...