Featured Species

Western snowy plover
An up close image of a western snowy plover egg blends almost perfectly in the sand beneath a dark gnarled piece of dried seaweed.
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The Federally Threatened western snowy plover nests on the Refuge beaches from March - September. Their nests and eggs are very difficult to notice, as seen in the photo to the right. To protect this species, beaches are closed during this nesting season every year. 

La Graciosa thistle
A rugged looking La Graciosa Thistle plant late in its blooming with seven or so flowers atop its radial leafy growth. An orange flag marks its location next to it.
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Another recovery project on the Refuge is the restoration of La Graciosa thistle. The endangered thistle lives around the edges of wetlands and  riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian  areas within coastal dune scrub habitat. It is currently found in only eight locations scattered along the Central Coast of California from Santa Barbara County, north to San Louis Obispo County. Learn more about the recovery of this endangered plant here.

a brownish red frog with black stripes and spots stared into the camera

This species occurs from sea level to elevations of about 1,500 meters (5,200 feet). It has been extirpated from 70 percent of its former range and now is found primarily in coastal drainages of central California, from Marin County, California, south to northern Baja California, Mexico....

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Species
Kingdom
Animalia
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Species
A monarch butterfly on a yellow flower

Adult monarch butterflies are large and conspicuous, with bright orange wings surrounded by a black border and covered with black veins. The black border has a double row of white spots, present on the upper side of the wings. Adult monarchs are sexually dimorphic, with males having narrower...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species

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