American Avocet

The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a migratory bird easily spotted in San Francisco Bay tidal salt marshes with their diagnostic long and pointed beak, similar to an elongated needle with a bit more girth. These birds prefer to nest and breed at interior wetland sites, migrating towards coastal lagoons and salt marshes during the winter where climate is a bit more regulated leading to a wider array of prey. Avocets are well suited for aquatic environments, as even young hatchlings intuitively know how to swim. In the water, young birds are taught how to thrust their long beaks into muddy sediment unearthing buried insects; their prey of choice. In terms of conservation, the primary threat to the American Avocet is habitat loss and degradation. For local populations, this statistic is unpromising, as 95% of salt marsh habitats have been lost or destroyed in favor of urban development in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. McLaughlin State Park is one of few locations existing today where one can still find these distinctive birds. The park provides salt marsh conservation and restoration crucial to enhancing the diversity of life typically found in salt marsh ecosystems.