Birding
The refuge is home to large concentrations of wintering ducks, geese, and swans. Neotropical migrants and grassland songbirds are also abundant -- all are easily viewed from the refuge's 2 auto tour routes and nature trails, which are open year-round. Many bird species occur on the refuge seasonally. View our Nature's Calendar along with our Bird List brochure below, available inside the visitor center and at most of the outdoor information kiosks--for more information about the birds that you are most likely to see throughout the seasons. During the hot dry days of summer, you are more likely to see a greater number of bird species in the morning – the next best time for summer birds is in the late afternoon/early evening. Likewise, most mammals, including the tule elk, are more likely to be visible in the morning or early evening during the hot months.
Explore our refuge complex brochures and rules & polices before visiting.
Seasons of Wildlife
Spring
With the arrival of spring, migrating birds begin their journey north to their nest grounds. As the seasonal wetlands begin to drain, invertebrates become concentrated in pools where various species of shore birds take advantage of an easy meal.
Summer
With the summer temperatures well into the 90's and 100's wildlife at Pixley Refuge seek shelter to stay cool during the day. During this time of the year wildlife are more active in the early morning and evening when temperatures drop.
Fall
With the fall flood up timed perfectly with the fall migration, thousands of waterfowl and migratory birds use Pixley Refuge to rest, forage, and stage until the spring. Sandhill cranes start showing up in late September.
Winter
Thousands of waterfowl, sandhill cranes, ibis, and shorebirds use Pixley Refuge as a staging area during the winter. Sandhill crane and white-faced ibis fly off refuge at sunrise and forage on the uplands and neighboring farmland. The observation deck is a perfect place to watch them take to the sky in the morning.
Featured Species
Visitors to the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge may be surprised to see it is home to small seasonal marsh wetlands. What they may not know is that it has some of the last significant acres of Southern San Joaquin Valley grassland habitat. This habitat type provides nesting, foraging, and cover for a variety of species including threatened Tipton kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. During the winter months, it is the best place in the Southern San Joaquin Valley to view sandhill cranes.
