Join us for a free public event on Saturday, October 10, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. at the Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center for an afternoon celebrating the remarkable wildlife and natural beauty of our region. The program will feature presentations by two outstanding local nature experts: Ernie Cowan — Acclaimed nature writer, photographer, and longtime contributor to Read More
Survey Opens to Measure Economic Impact of Tijuana River Valley Pollution
People who work, live, visit, own businesses or are part of community organizations near the Tijuana River Valley are invited to take a survey measuring the economic impacts of the ongoing sewage pollution. The findings will help guide future funding and long-term solutions. The survey is part of the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis Economic Impact Study, which is Read More
Western snowy plover population exceeds 3,000, a recovery milestone!
Every year, biologists, volunteers and conservationists from Washington State to San Diego, California, come together for one purpose: to count a tiny bird the size of a sparrow, the western snowy plover. The numbers tell a compelling story. Back in 2023, the count revealed just 2,336 snowy plovers. In 2024, that number rose to 2,676. Read More
City Nature Challenge at the Tijuana Estuary April 26
Event by San Diego National Wildlife Refuges 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-3149 Duration: 2 hr – Open to the public Join California State Parks and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for this year’s City Nature Challenge, an international community science event where people around the world document the plants and wildlife living Read More
Pat and Mike McCoy trail and interpretive sign feted
Celebrating a Legacy of Coastal Conservation Friends Host Event Honoring Pat & Mike McCoy — Visionaries of the Tijuana Estuary On February 13, 2026, the Friends of San Diego Wildlife Refuges proudly hosted a special event celebrating decades of dedicated conservation work by two pillars of our coastal community: Patricia and Mike McCoy. The celebration Read More
Refuge Association Praises Bipartisan Deal Protecting Wildlife Refuges from Deep Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Wildlife Refuge Association today praised a bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Interior appropriations bill that preserves essential funding for America’s public lands and waters. “This bipartisan agreement prevents devastating cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge System at a time when these lands can least afford them,” said Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President & CEO of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “While Read More
Squirrel meets Snake on the Refuge
Video of a California ground squirrel interacting with a southern Pacific rattlesnake who had recently eaten. The snake rattles its rattle to warn the squirrel (Credit: Refuge Manager Sally Brown/USFWS). Recently at San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a California ground squirrel was seen tossing wood chips, jumping around, and flicking its tail at a Read More
San Diego to Ojai – Raptor Relocation!
Photo credit: Kim Stroud, Ojai Raptor Center In May 2025, three eggs from a peregrine falcon nest were transferred from San Diego Bay NWR to the Ojai Raptor Center in Ventura County. This effort was a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Friends of San Diego Wildlife Refuges, and the Ojai Raptor Read More
April Refuge Watch
Virginia rail at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, MN | Mike Budd/USFWS. Dear George, As April and Earth Month come to a close, we are feeling deeply grateful—and honestly, a little overwhelmed—in the best way possible. This year’s Spring Campaign has been one of our most successful yet. We’ve raised $89,000 toward our $100,000 goal, and Read More