Seasons of Wildlife
The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect wildlife species that were threatened and endangered, and provide exclusive habitat just for them. Sweetwater Marsh provides habitat for four endangered or threatened species, and over 200 species of birds have been seen here. The Refuge is broken up into two distinct areas: the Sweetwater Marsh Unit and the South San Diego Bay Unit.
Sweetwater Marsh Unit
The most significant habitat present on this Refuge Unit is coastal salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
Learn more about salt marsh . This habitat supports an array of invertebrates and juvenile fish, and provides nesting, foraging, and high water refuge for many species of birds.
South San Diego Bay Unit
The predominant native habitats within the South San Diego Bay Unit include shallow subtidal habitat and intertidal mudflats. In addition, the salt ponds provide resting and foraging habitat for a variety of avian species, while the levees around the ponds provide important nesting habitat for seven species of ground nesting seabirds.