On this post, I’d like to share about how I got interested in birding or birdwatching. So as not to make this post too long to read, I will write separately on the approach I’m taking to learn and understand this hobby of observing birds.
Last year, I volunteered to become a docent for the Bufferlands, an open space area of 2,150-acres surrounding the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant near the community I live in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento. This open space is only accessible to the public through guided tours as part of its educational program. I thought that the best way to have more access to it is by volunteering. The backstory of the Bufferlands and the water treatment plant is in itself amazing and I highly recommend to visit its website (https://www.sacsewer.com/bufferlands/). As an aspiring docent, I attended the 4-session training program spread out over a month to know its history and mission and to learn about the diverse plant and animal life in the preserve. Within animal life alone, there were two separate classes, one for mammals and another for birds. During the session on birds, I couldn’t keep up with all the bird names I was hearing that have been identified. I had no idea of bird names other than the lovebirds, Mynah birds and parrots we had in our house when I was growing up in the Philippines. As of Winter 2024, 247 species of birds have been identified in the Bufferlands, an astonishing amount of diversity for a relatively small space, 2000-acre area. To emphasize how remarkable this is, “… Yosemite National Park, which covers over 700,000 acres, has a bird list of 265 species” (BUFF BLOG – Winter 2024 Vol 2, No 1.).
One lesson that really resonated with me is the role of protecting and maintaining diverse habitats to ensure different wildlife species will thrive. We need to make sure they have a home too and humans share the land with other living creatures. This really aroused my interest in learning more about birds. I also read that within 20-mile radius of where I live, there are 3 areas that have been identified by the Sacramento Audubon Society as prime areas for birdwatching. It is very accessible to me and there are many things to discover!
Bufferlands Winter 2024 Newsletter
I found these two useful links about birds in the Bufferlands and where to go in Sacramento County to observe birds:
Something Active, Something Creative 
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