Lake Merritt is the oldest wildlife refuge in North America. There are five human-made bird islands a few feet from the shoreline and a sanctuary that act as a stop-over for thousands of migratory water and land birds. Bring your binoculars to watch snowy egrets, great blue & black-crowned night herons, Canadian & Egyptian geese, Mandarin, pintail, wood and ring-necked ducks, coots, cormorants, gulls, white-eyed and surf scoters, grebes, brown pelicans, gadwalls, common and re-throated loons, Eurasian and American wigeons, and many other species of birds. There is also a bird sanctuary.
Bird islands
Bird islands Bird sanctuary
There is a Nature Center with restrooms nearby. Outside of the Nature Center there is a protected area where birds stop to rest so you can get close to them. There is ample parking by the Nature Center.
Full Review: Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt is the oldest wildlife refuge in North America. There are five human-made bird islands a few feet from the shoreline and a sanctuary that act as a stop-over for thousands of migratory water and land birds. Bring your binoculars to watch snowy egrets, great blue & black-crowned night herons, Canadian & Egyptian geese, Mandarin, pintail, wood and ring-necked ducks, coots, cormorants, gulls, white-eyed and surf scoters, grebes, brown pelicans, gadwalls, common and re-throated loons, Eurasian and American wigeons, and many other species of birds. There is also a bird sanctuary.
Bird islands
Bird islands Bird sanctuary
There is a Nature Center with restrooms nearby. Outside of the Nature Center there is a protected area where birds stop to rest so you can get close to them. There is ample parking by the Nature Center.
Duck Nature center
Egret Mallard duck
Coot Black-crowned night heron
Plentiful parking