Features
American Avocet
Shorebird numbers such as those of the avocet, peak during spring migration
Yellow-footed Gull
The Salton Sea is the only area in the U.S. to see the Yellow-footed Gull.
Yuma Clapper Rail
Often heard but rarely seen, the Yuma Clapper Rail nests on the refuge.
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and an environmental assessment (EA) for the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Planning Update 1 & 2About the Complex
The Complex includes SBSSNWR and CNWR
Sonny Bono Salton Sea is managed as part of the SBSSNWRC.
Learn more about the complex About the NWRS
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America’s fish, wildlife, and plants.
Learn more about the NWRS
Hot Topics
We offer guided tours and activities. Contact us at 1-760-348-5278 to learn more.
Recently Seen Birds:
Lots of colorful spring migrants including Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, and Wilson's Warblers.
Find birding locations and a map on Southwest Birders!
Learn More
Wood storks in the Southeastern United States no longer face imminent danger of extinction. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing to upgrade the status of the U.S. breeding population of wood storks from Endangered to Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal follows a comprehensive review, conducted by Service biologists, of the best available scientific and commercial information about the species' status.
News Release
Burrowing Owl
More than 70 percent of the California Burrowing Owl population is found within the Salton Sea ecosystem.
Page Photo Credits — All photos courtesy of USFWS unless otherwise noted.
Last Updated: Mar 06, 2013