City of Sacramento

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Fees and directions may have changed. If you have recommended changes for a location, please email them to the Web Committee.

Purple Martins, the largest swallows in North America, are found throughout much of the United States and into Canada during the summer. The Western Purple Martin (Progne subis arboricola) is much less common than the Eastern subspecies (P. s. subis) and is uncommon and declining in the West, especially since the arrival of the European Starling in the 1970s. The last remnant of the Central Valley population persists in Sacramento. They arrive near the end of March, and generally nest in “weep holes” under freeway overpasses. By the end of July, nesting season is over, and shortly they head toward their wintering grounds in South America.

Purple Martins can generally be found in the following locations in and near downtown Sacramento:

• Sutterville Rd overpass, east of Sacramento City College
  Directions to Sutter Rd overpass: From US Highway 50 and US Hwy 99, go south on Hwy 99 for about 1 miles to the first exit, 12th Ave/Sutterville Rd, Exit 297. Turn right and drive west on Sutterville Rd for 0.4 mi to Crocker Dr. Turn right on Crocker Dr and immediately turn left into the parking lot for the shopping center with retail in the front and Safeway Market at the rear. Drive to the back left part of the parking lot where you can see the Sutterville Rd overpass above the railroad tracks. Park here. After parking walk across the dirt lot towards 10th St. Look for the Purple Martins entering and exiting the weep holes under Sutterville Rd. Alternatively head up the stairs next to the Sutterville Rd overpass and view the Purple Martins from the sidewalk on the overpass. Safeway Market Address: 3680 Crocker Drive

• Ramona Ave under Highway 50
  Directions to Ramona Ave: From the intersection of US Hwy 50, US Hwy 99, and Business 80, drive east on Hwy 50 for 3.4 mi to the Howe Ave exit, Exit 9.  Follow the offramp for 0.2 mi to Howe Ave, then turn right and drive south for 0.15 mi to Folsom Blvd. Turn right and drive westerly on Folsom Blvd for 0.6 mi to State University Dr, a side road on the right. Continue west on Folsom Blvd for 0.1 mi to the intersection with Ramona Dr, a side road on the left whose access is blocked by concrete barriers. Opposite Ramona Ave, on the north side of Folsom Blvd is a small paved area adjacent the bike lane. Turn right and park, making sure to not block the bike lane/walkway which accesses the Sac State campus. Park here. Cross Folsom Blvd and walk south to the Hwy 50 overpass of Ramona Ave.

The best time to observe them is in early May when they are nest-building, and June and early July when parents are busy feeding young. Researchers have been carefully monitoring Sacramento’s Purple Martins for over 20 years. Decades ago, they nested in tree cavities and buildings throughout the Central Valley until the 1970s, when competition from non-native European Starlings eliminated them as a local breeder except in Sacramento, where their unique adaptation to overpasses and elevated freeways allowed them to persist. Unfortunately, they have declined by over 85% since 2004 presumably due to poor reproduction resulting from reduced insect populations following increased use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Luckily, it is still possible to see these beautiful birds in the Sacramento area and well worth the time. eBird Sightings - Sutterville Rd, Romona Ave

The Sacramento Audubon Society has been a long-time sponsor of the Purple Martin Project, coordinated by Dan Airola and Dan Kopp, by funding the expenses of participating volunteers monitoring Sacramento’s Purple Martins and supporting publication of Dan’s 2020 book Life Under the Fast Lane: Ecology and Conservation of the Bridge-nesting Purple Martins in Urban Sacramento (available at cvbirds.org).  This ongoing study and the recommendations that follow will help conserve this vulnerable population.

Maureen Geiger and Dan Airola

If you have only a few hours to spare for birding on a winter weekend morning, you might want to visit East Lawn Cemetery on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento. This park-like setting has mowed lawns and tall evergreen and deciduous trees such as palm, oak, maple, pine and magnolia. Dense shrubbery lines the west boundary with a few thickets scattered throughout the cemetery. The wonderful old trees make the area a pleasant place to take a walk.

Birding the site: Always found in winter are Bushtit, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Robin, Northern Flicker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Anna’s Hummingbird, Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Finch and, of course, American Crow and California Scrub Jay. Northern Mockingbird and Black Phoebe also “hang out” in the area and often American and Lesser Goldfinches can be found. Red-tailed Hawk may be seen soaring overhead or perching on top of one of the tall evergreen trees. By listening carefully, one can usually track down a small flock of Golden-crowned Kinglet and an occasional Brown Creeper. One or two Red-breasted Nuthatch also winter here, as do a few Red-breasted Sapsucker. Now and then, a vagrant warbler or Varied Thrush will appear. Over the years, Townsend’s Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Black-and-white Warbler have been found in winter. eBird Sightings

To learn more about the accessibility of this location visit Accessible Birding.

Directions: The entrance is on Folsom Boulevard at 43rd Street. From Sacramento City, take Highway 50 east to 34th Street exit (2.3 miles east of Interstate 5). Turn left at 34th Street and go 0.6 mile to Folsom Boulevard. Turn right and go 0.7 mile to the cemetery entrance. Summer hours are 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. During the winter, the hours are from 8 a.m. until dusk. This area is usually rather quiet on the weekends. Weekdays are often noisy with grounds-keeping activities.

Mary Beth Metcalf

This tour of urban parks begins in William Land Park and continues south. From Interstate 5, exit at Sutterville Road and turn left. After crossing the overpass, go right at the sign for Riverside Boulevard which then circles around to head north to William Land Park. From William Land Park continue the tour south to the other urban parks.

Although most of the area south of William Land Park has been taken over as a residential area, the birding is surprisingly good in the few remaining natural spots. Probably the best is the “panhandle” along Riverside Boulevard between 11th and 13th Avenues.

Birding the site: Large conifers, and berry-laden shrubs and trees attract winter flocks of American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, and American Goldfinch. Red-breasted Sapsucker is usually present and Red-naped and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been seen in the area. Hutton’s Vireo can usually be found in the evergreen oaks. This is as good a place as any in Sacramento to look for wintering Varied Thrush (under the redwoods), Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Townsend’s Warbler, Purple Finch and Pine Siskin. eBird Sightings

Directions: From downtown Sacramento, take Interstate 5 for 2.0 miles south of Highway 50 and exit at Sutterville Road and turn left. After crossing the overpass, go right at the sign for Riverside Boulevard which then circles around to head north to William Land Park.

Reichmuth Park, formerly an oxbow lake, is now playing fields and a swampy, wooded nature area. The low-lying soccer fields revert to a lake in rainy winters, attracting California, Ring-billed and Short-billed Gulls. When dry, they attract American Crow, Blackbirds, American Pipit and American Robin. In recent years, the City of Sacramento approved an agreement with a Frisbee golf club to open the park to this activity. Large areas of previously dense habitat have been removed opening up the trails to allow for Frisbee golf. Consider visiting during the week as weekends can be very busy.

Birding the site: The nature area, for its size, is one of the great magnets for migrating landbirds in the Sacramento area.  Sixteen warbler species have been recorded here, including all of the West Coast species plus Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Hooded Warbler, and Canada Warbler. Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, and Willow Flycatcher are common migrants and Olive-sided, Hammond’s, and Dusky flycatchers are also regular migrants. Hutton’s and Cassin’s vireos migrate through and occasionally overwinter. Hooded Oriole nesting in the fan palms in nearby yards bring their families to the park in August and September. Swainson’s Thrush skulk through the thickets in May. Lazuli Bunting feed in the tall grasses in August and September. Hummingbirds are ever present: Anna’s year-round; Black-chinned in spring and summer. Watch for their nests low in the blackberries. Rufous/Allen’s types migrate from July through September. Winter visitors include Wood Duck, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned hawks, thrushes, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Orange-crowned Warbler, many sparrows, and Purple Finch. Resident birds are: Red-shouldered Hawk, Downy and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Bewick’s and House Wrens, Northern Mockingbird, Spotted Towhee, and House Finch. Careful scrutiny of the park’s birdlife at almost any season is bound to reveal something interesting. Close to this location, from March through the summer, Northern Rough-winged Swallow nest in drain holes where Riverside Boulevard, Seamas, 35th and 43rd Avenues pass under Interstate 5. eBird Sightings

Directions: From the previous section, proceed south on Riverside Boulevard. Turn left at 43rd Avenue to Gloria Drive and turn right. Parking is available in the park and along Gloria Drive. If you skip William Land Park, head south on Interstate 5 for 3.7 miles from Highway 50 and take the 43rd Avenue exit. Turn left and drive east for 0.2 mi on 43rd Ave, then make a right on Gloria Drive and drive south for 0.2 mi, turning left into the second driveway for the parking lot for Joseph Reichmuth Park. Note: there is no 43rd Avenue exit from northbound Interstate 5—if coming from the south, exit Interstate 5 at Florin Road; head west and turn right on Greenhaven Drive, and then turn right on Gloria Drive). The nature trail begins east of the Sump 55 building to the south of the parking lot.

Public access has been diminished to the point where it's no longer a great birding destination, but worth a check if you're in the area. In fall and winter, large flocks of Common Merganser (a Red-breasted Merganser may occasionally be found), Ruddy Duck, Gulls (mostly California and Ring-billed, but occasionally Short-billed, Herring, and Iceland) plus occasional Western and Clark’s Grebes, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye and other water birds may be found. Green Heron and Belted Kingfisher forage along the shoreline, and Caspian Tern visits in the spring and summer. eBird Sightings

Directions: Take Shoreside Drive south from Riverside Boulevard (0.7 mile west of I-5), and turn left on Lake Vista Court. There are 3 parcels on this street where you can look through hog-wire fencing to view the lake.

Garcia Bend Park is worth a visit in spring and fall to look for migrating landbirds in the riparian growth and Caspian or Forster’s Terns over the river. In winter, check for waterbirds you may have missed at Greenhaven Lake (described above) or River Lake (access via West Shore and East Shore drives north of Pocket Road). Marriott Park has large valley oaks that attract migrating warblers, vireos, tanagers and others in spring. eBird Sightings - Garcia Bend Park, Marriott Park

Directions: From the previous location, continue south on Riverside Boulevard, which turns into Pocket Road. Garcia Bend Park will be on your right opposite Windbridge Drive. To go directly to Garcia Bend, exit Interstate 5 at Pocket Road (6.0 miles south of Highway 50) and head west for 1.9 miles; the park will be on your left. For Marriott Park, from Pocket Road just west of Interstate 5, go south on Greenhaven Road for 0.2 mi, then turn left and drive 0.2 mi east on Grand River Drive to the park.

Chorley Park is a small city park that harbors migrating landbirds and nesting White-tailed Kite in spring. This area consists of weeds, willows, and cottonwood trees. eBird Sightings

Directions: From the intersection of Interstate 5 and Pocket Rd to the west and Meadowview Road to the east, drive 0.25 mi east on Meadowview Rd. Turn left and head north on Freeport Boulevard to Florin Road. Turn right and go east on Florin Rd to 20th Street. Turn left and drive north 1 block to the park. Walk west from the parking lot, behind the playing field and elementary school, to an area of weeds, willows and cottonwoods. Returning to Freeport Boulevard, continue north, back into southern Sacramento. You will pass Sacramento Executive Airport, which has a long history of harboring Burrowing Owl, though they have been much reduced and more sporadic in recent years. These birds may occasionally be seen along the drainage ditch between Freeport Boulevard and the airport, especially in the first few hours after sunrise and again a few hours before dark.

Tim Manolis

Situated from Sacramento City center south on I-5 about 10 miles, the two ponds on Delta Shores Circle are worth a look, especially fall through spring. Located just southeast of RC Willey in the large Delta Shores shopping center, the first pond is easiest to access as parking is permissible along its length and in the RC Willey lot.

Birding the Site: Lined with small willows and cottonwoods, this large, rectangular pond is edged on the street-side by a paved walkway. Birding here can be very productive with a variety of diving ducks present. Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck are some of the possibilities. A Redhead was found here in March of 2022. The marshy edges are busy with a growing population of Great-tailed Grackle, and, in spring, you might see their large, twiggy nests in the trees. As of March of 2022, the open fields across from the pond provide habitat for Killdeer, White-tailed Kite and Western Meadowlark, although some of the open space is slated for development in the next couple years. eBird Sightings

A second pond, east of the first, has similar species. Parking is limited, only available on the opposite side of the road, Delta Shores Circle. This road is a busy 4-lane road without crosswalks. Take care if you choose to investigate the second pond.

Directions: From Sacramento, take I-5 south about 10 miles to the Cosumnes River Boulevard exit. Turn left over the freeway, drive past the entrance the shopping center. After driving east 0.25 mi from the freeway, turn right on Delta Shores Circle South, and drive southerly for 0.6 mi, passing the shopping center on your right.  Where the street is curving to the left, and just before reaching the pond section, at the last shopping center driveway, turn right. There are parking spaces on the left, opposite R.C. Willey store and adjacent the pond. (R.C .Willey address is 8340 Delta Shores Circle South.)

Maureen Geiger, March, 2022

Banner Photo Credit: Purple Martin by Chris Conard