Half Day Ventura Wildlife Walking Tour

Superb bird watching awaits you here! Let me guide you around a lesser known Ventura location teeming with nature. On this tour we visit several areas where I will help you spot freshwater species, shore birds, and learn a bit about the Chumash culture. For 7 years I have brought others to this area and seen the awe it inspires. You will be lent a pair of binoculars to use for the duration of the tour and have plenty of time to take stunning wildlife photos. You may encounter majestic brown pelicans, Western snowy plover, great blue herons and more (depending on season). Enjoy the sea breezes and beach comb as we walk on the sand to the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center. Visit the Ventura Harbor for an optional refreshment before saying goodbye to the seabirds, surf and sand. A 10% donation from the guide earnings will be made to Friends of the Santa Clara River, the local environmental non-profit providing the binoculars, from this tour. A waiver for taking the tour is required.

1: Walk the Ventura Wildlife Ponds area watching for and learning about freshwater and land based species. Winter brings hundreds of individuals, such as ruddy ducks and coots. Spring means flowers, bird nesting and baby animals. 2: We move next to a saltwater habitat and walk on the shore through dunes and next to the surf to the Santa Clara River Estuary. Different species to discover include sand pipers, willets, curlews, gulls. Perhaps a sea lion or dolphin will be spotted! 3: At the Santa Clara River estuary we typically see brown pelicans, a success story rebounded from near extinction in the 1970s. 4: Next is a 1/2 mi beach walk to the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center where you have time to go through the exhibits and up in the lookout tower. 5: Walk back to the Ventura Harbor, for an optional cool or hot refreshment and look around at local art & shops. This tour can be customized upon request.