Notice: Bank protection levee work, removing all vegetation along the levee from the J Street Bridge to Paradise Bend (Site 2-1) is ongoing. Bird habitat occurs away from the construction area towards the water and to the west. To avoid possible dust and noise, you may wish to plan evening, weekend, or holiday visits. It is expected to be completed after Summer 2025. For more information on this project visit the US Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District Website.
White-tailed Kite, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Birding the Site: The parking area has oaks that attract Yellow-rumped Warblers and Bushtits. The shrubbery and playfield around Glenn Hall are host to Lark Sparrows, White and Golden-crowned Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos in the winter; Yellow-billed Magpies occur unpredictably but year-round. Crossing the levee from the parking lot into the dry riverbed, you can follow several trails through denser willows and cottonwoods, all leading to spots at or overlooking the American River. In winter: exposed and shallow-water sandbars host large numbers of California Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, American Herring gulls, and an occasional Glaucous-winged Gull. Deeper water hosts Common Goldeneyes, and Buffleheads, along with Wood Ducks, and Common Mergansers. The levee is hard-packed but not paved, providing a place above the vegetation to view birds. The dry riverbed is uneven, with both sand and rock cobble. Vegetation is primarily the faster growing suitable flood plain vegetation Fremont’s cottonwood, sandbar willow, and ash trees; shrubs include blackberry brambles and coyote bush. Woody high-water debris piles support wrens, California Quail, Spotted, and California Towhees. Winter flooding is welcoming to birds, and if not too flooded, great for bird watching. The willow-covered sandbars and mature trees away from construction in this area are suitable for migrant flycatchers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Resident breeding birds include wrens, towhees, and other small passerines.
Walking on the high bank to the west of the main beach, one can see a sandy bank on the north side of the river that is a perfect spot for Belted Kingfishers to burrow and nest, though no nests have yet been discovered.
The rarer migrant warblers and flycatchers occur among the willows and cottonwoods during fall and spring. After dark, one might hear Great Horned Owls and screech owls. White-tailed Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Swainson’s Hawks nest in the area. In the past White-tailed Kites have overwintered in the suburban streets in dense evergreen trees, descending just as the sun sets. Merlins occur in the winter. Vast numbers of crows move through the area late afternoon. eBird Sightings
Directions: Glenn Hall Park is about 10 minutes or 5.8 miles east of the interchange of Highway 50 and Interstate 5 in downtown Sacramento. Take the 65th St exit, and drive 0.4 mi north to Elvas Street and turn left. Drive 0.5 miles northwest and stay in the right lane to access J St. Bear right and drive northeasterly on J St for 0.25 miles to Carlson Drive. Make a left - north - on Carlson Ave (instead of going into Sacramento State University - a right or south side turn). Drive northerly on Carlson Dr. for 1 mile until until it dead-ends into the parking lot. The main beach is straight east and slightly south from the parking lot. It is nice to make a loop from the main beach, west up along the bank, and back around to the levee and the parking lot. The parking lot is free but locked at dark. Street parking is available.
Sally Walters