Concierge for Bodega Bay and the Sonoma Coast

Marine and Coastal Wildlife along the Northern California Coast

Bring your sense of wonder and you will be richly rewarded by our fabulous marine and coastal wildlife!

	Bird Watching Strap your binoculars around your neck and head onto wetlands trails along the bay and coast for some of the best coastal bird-watching you'll ever experience.

	Bodega Marine Laboratory The University of California Davis Bodega Marine Reserve sits on wind-swept headlands on California's north coast where a 362-acre coastal reserve meets a state-protected marine reserve. Volunteer docents give tours to drop-in visitors on Fridays from 2pm-4pm. 2099 Westside Rd., Bodega Bay, CA 94923 707-875-2211

	Chanslor Wetlands Wildlife Project The Chanslor Wetlands Wildlife Project protects approximately 250 acres of crucial wetlands habitat in the historic fishing village of Bodega Bay, California. 2660 Highway One, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 707-875-2721

	Crabbing Take some traps and head across the bay to the far shore for a day of crabbing.

	Marine Mammal Center The Marine Mammal Center recognizes human interdependence with marine mammals and their importance as sentinels of the ocean environment, the health of which is essential for all life. It is our responsibility to use our awareness, compassion and intelligence to foster marine mammal survival and the conservation of their habitat. Open for public visitation 10 am - 4 pm daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. 415-289-7325

	Hunt for Sand Dollars If you look real close, there are beaches that seem to grow sand dollars in the surf. With a little luck, you’ll find perfect, round dollars with deeply etched patterns on their backs.

	Lamb Watching In early spring and fall one of the funniest sights is baby lambs romping in pastures along our hills and valleys.

	Monarch Butterflies A couple of places near Bodega Bay are among the northernmost publicly accessible spots to see wintering monarchs. The numbers aren't as spectacular as they are farther south -- places in Pismo Beach and Santa Cruz where more than 100,000 monarchs gather for the winter. But even a few dozen (or several thousand in a good Bodega Bay year) all bunched up together on a single tree branch are something to see.

	Seal Watching Park at the lower parking lot at Goat Rock State Beach or on top of the hill at Jenner and hike to the end of the Russian River. You’ll find a large herd of seals bathing in the sun, slipping in and out of the water and surfing the current where the river joins the sea

	Shell Collecting Find perfect specimens along the beach and fill your pockets with treasures to take home to place among flowers in your garden or in bowls of water on your table.

	Tide Pooling Call ahead to find out when the tide is low then head to one of the rocky shores where broad shelves reach out into the water and reveal sea urchins, star fish, tiny crabs and rocks covered with mussels and barnacles among a wide variety of sea life suddenly visible.

	Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods promotes education, preservation and restoration of the natural and cultural resources of Russian River area state parks in partnership with the California Department of Parks and Recreation through interpretation and public stewardship. 707-869-9177

	Whale Watching There are many ways to watch whales along our coast. One of the most spectacular is to take one of the boat cruises out to sea and get close to the migration route.