Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
Map SatelliteLocated in the heart of the waterfowl wintering grounds of the Pacific Flyway, this Refuge is one of the most extensively used in the country.
Though a few individuals may be seen on the Refuge throughout the year, the main body of ducks begins to arrive in September, followed by the geese in October. In December and January the total number of birds on the Refuge often exceeds 1,000,000. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded on the Refuge, including 26 species of waterfowl and 20 species of shorebirds. The most abundant ducks and geese during the winter months are the pintail, Anas acuta, mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, widgeon, Mareca americana, snow goose, Chen hyperborea, white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons, and the cackling goose, Branta canadensis minima.
Some twenty mammal species have been observed on the Refuge.
A considerable portion of the Refuge is cultivated; however, there are freshwater marshes with stands of bulrushes, Scirpus sp., smartweeds, Polygonum sp., spikerushes, Eleocharis sp., etc.
Integrity: The area is managed as a Wildlife Refuge.
Use: Research, educational, observational
Ref: Anon. 1967. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. U. S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Sport. Fisheries and Wildlife Refuge Leaflet 29-R-3.
May 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman