Wildlife viewing is a sensory activity obviously involving sight, but enhanced by smell, touch and hearing. In our noisy world, the quiet sounds of the natural world often go unheard. But for those with a keen ear, winter is the perfect time to follow the call of the wild.
Winter is by far the best time of year to experience California's diverse wildlife.
If you haven't noticed, winter wildlife is all around you, whether you live in the city, country, desert or redwoods. This winter abundance of wildlife is due to two factors, both of which are related to California's mild Mediterranean climate characterized by hot dry summers and cool wet winters. Ducks, geese and swans are the most well known migrants travelling south along the Pacific Flyway, but hawks, cranes, sandpipers, sparrows, and a host of other species also find a winter home in the golden state. Second, many of California's year-round residents lay low during the hot dry summers. Some of the smaller mammals and amphibians actually enter a summer dormancy called estivation similar to winter hibernation in colder climates.