At a Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge River Partners has created a birding hotspot, immediately adjacent to the State’s largest highway.
Using agricultural techniques to clear the site of weeds and debris, prepare the site for planting, develop and install a drip irrigation system, plant the site and combat weeds through the 3-year establishment period, River Partners delivered high value wildlife habitat that is occupied by several threatened and endangered species. Plant survival at the end of three growing seasons was 84%. To walk the site now, you wouldn’t believe the transformation.
Project Impact
55 acres restored
19,000 trees planted
12 priority species protected
PLUS
A transformed space for wildlife and human visitors, and huge increases in avian variety and abundance
About the Otay Delta Project
River Partners engaged avian biologists to monitor the restoration area and surrounding habitat lands for winter bird abundance and diversity. Avian abundance (number of birds observed during the monitoring event) increased from 7-21 birds pre-project to 35-46 birds post-project. Avian richness (number of species observed during the monitoring event) increased from 4-5 species pre-project to 8-10 species post-project. In addition to these winter surveys, targeted surveys for threatened Least Bell’s Vireo identified three individuals and one confirmed nest in the spring of 2014. 63 additional bird species were observed on site in the spring of 2014. The lands are accessible by trail for hiking, biking, running, and of course, birding!
Photos top to bottom, left to right:
- Before and after a few years of growth, obscuring I-5 behind restored vegetation.
- Walking through the restoration in 2022, with shade and tall vegetation.
- Otay Delta serves as outdoor classroom for High Tech High Chula Vista students.
- Standing next to a restored tree.
