Yesterday, we spent the morning checking out birds at the Arcata marsh. This is an amazing community resource, used by students and Audubon club members for education and recreation.

Birding at the marsh!

Snowy egrets

The creation of the marshes is an interesting story. In the 1970s, under new environmental regulation, the city of Arcata was faced with the issue of treating their wastewater before sending it into the ocean. Rather than spending millions of dollars on a wastewater treatment facility, two professors from the university designed, tested, and proved a marsh system as an acceptable treatment for the city's wastewater. Now the four marshes serve as the perfect habitat for migrating and resident bird species.

Species list for Arcata Marsh, Humboldt county, Oct. 11:

Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black Phoebe, Ruby-crowned kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow, Lesser Goldfish, House Finch, Great Egret, Northern Pintail, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Mallards, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, White-Crowned Sparrow, Common Merganser, Eurasian Wigeon, ,

Our tour began in true foggy country fashion. Launching from Crescent City on October 8, we pedaled 80 miles through redwood groves and by coastal terraces to reach Arcata, CA.

We pedaled uphill

We pedaled downhill

We pedaled past many large lagoons that support lots of birds on their path south.

Can you find the great blue heron?

In two days we will be at our first elementary school in Whitethorn, CA, near Garberville and the Lost Coast.

In the meantime, here is a species list of the birds we've noticed along our ride.

Oct. 9, Del Norte County, Hwy 101:

Pacific Wren, Northern Flicker, Western Gull, American Robin, Belted Kingfisher, Steller's Jay, Common Raven, Western Meadowlark, Turkey Vulture, Brewer's Blackbird, European Starling, Brandt's Cormorant, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Brown creeper, American Crow

Oct. 10, Humboldt County, Hwy 101, Big Lagoon, Clam Beach, Mad River:

White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, Red-shouldered Hawk, Brandt's Cormorant, Northern Flicker, Mallards, Ruddy Duck, Common Merganser, Belted Kingfisher, Trumpeter Swan, Brewer's Blackbirds, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Great Egret, Red-winged Blackbird, Turkey Vulture, White-crowned Sparrows, Song Sparrows