Elevations
in the park range from sea level near the coast to 3,200
feet in the Santa Lucia Mountains, less than 2 miles
away. This change in elevation is part of the most abrupt
rise on the Eastern Pacific coast from Alaska to Peru.
There are two major drainages in the park, the Big Sur
River and the south fork of the Little Sur River, and
approximately 3 miles of coastline.
|
Blackpoll Warbler
Photo courtesy Big Sur Ornithology
Lab
|
Northern
and southern biogeographical regions meet here in a
kind of suture zone making for some seemingly
incongruous habitat associations. Most notably,
mesic canyons with redwoods, salamanders, and
Winter Wrens are flanked by semiarid grasslands
with yuccas, spiny lizards, and Rufous-crowned
Sparrows.
This
suture zone effect, in part, gives rise to a
remarkable floral diversity of 17 described plant
communities present in the park alone. The Big Sur
River maintains a relatively pristine
cottonwood-willow woodland that provides a welcome
retreat for migrants. This is perhaps most
conspicuous in the fall when the riparian corridor
can be littered with a dizzying array of migratory
songbirds. At the river’s terminus, a lagoon
affords some habitat for ducks and shorebirds in
fall and winter, and a small protected bay
sometimes holds Brant and Harlequin Duck.
Visit the
Big Sur Ornithology Lab
and, Monterey
Peninsula Audubon Society
Read our review of Jeff Davis’
Birds of Big Sur book
Order the book at Ventana Wilderness
Society
Often, on Saturdays, the
VWS conducts
Morning Bird Walks
at Andrew Molera State
Park– 8:30-
10:00AM led by an avian biologists. Meet at the Big
Sur Ornithology Lab near the Ranch House at Andrew
Molera State Park. Please bring binoculars and
expect to see many common resident birds, and
perhaps a rare bird or two. To reserve a spot,
contact Sarah Hamilton or Jason Scott at
831-624-1202.
Birding
Outfitter:Monterey
Birding Adventures
|
|
Birding for whole
family, and all levels of birders. 400+
species possible in five distinct
habitats. Guided half, or full day nature
tours. Family tours available. Walking or
kayaking tours of Elkhorn Slough (most
prolific sighting location in U.S.) Point
Lobos, Big Sur and Molera trips.
|
|
Where to Stay in Big Sur – Look at the Big
Sur Lodge
|