With sightings of more than 250 bird species coming and going at the Malibu Lagoon, this natural watering hole is an avian Grand Central Station. One of the few coastal lagoons remaining in Southern California, Malibu’s 31-acre embayment at the terminus of the Malibu Creek watershed attracts a variety of birds, some who nest, others who feed on the nutrient-rich habitat, and still others who stop on their migration route. The Malibu Lagoon is a shallow body of water, periodically separated from the ocean by a sand bar, depending on the tide and Malibu Creek flows. While the lagoon is reached by the tide, it also encompasses areas of quiet water, where creek sediments settle. In a healthy lagoon, tides and river flows remove built-up sediments and flush them out to sea. Because of human encroachments at Malibu Lagoon over the years, there is not enough water flow or flushing, which has degraded the habitat that supports the total collection of organisms. In 2000 a study, commissioned by the State Coastal Conservancy and conducted by UCLA, recommended restoration of certain lagoonal conditions, which resulted in the Malibu Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement Project. This $7-million project, permits for which have been issued by a number of federal and local government agencies, and the California Coastal Commission, calls for dredging and recontouring the stagnant wetland by reconfiguring the lagoon channels. After a number of delays as far back as a year ago, when several groups sued the Coastal Commission on the grounds the project was too damaging to existing habitat, the restoration battle continues, involving surfers, Malibu residents and environmentalists. With requests for further study from the Malibu City Council and several new groups in opposition, the June 1 start date remains unresolved. Last week, Pacific Palisades nature photographer Jim Kenney accompanied me on a walk-through of the area, which took us from the parking lot at the entrance of the area, through the marsh areas and tidal flats, past the lagoon to the shore. Kenney has been photographing birds in the area for six years, making weekly forays to observe the changes that occur with the seasons, the weather and the time of day. A self-described amateur, Kenney nevertheless has built an impressive photo album of birds in both mature and juvenile stages while developing a keen knowledge about their habits and migratory patterns. He is on the record in support of the Malibu Lagoon restoration project, arguing that a degradation of habitat affects avian nesting and foraging habits. The entire lagoon and adjacent shoreline can be defined by a variety of specific bird habitats, including tidepool, outer and inner shore, marsh, and Malibu Colony gardens. Shorebirds, such as plovers, sandpipers, stilts, snipes and turnstones, forage for food within their habitat, either on dry soil, mud or in shallow water. During the spring, summer and fall migration they rest and feed at this stopover location, fattening up on a variety of invertebrate prey such as worms, insect larva, amphipods, copepods, crustaceans and mollusks. The backwater portions of the lagoon attract snowy egrets and herons that hide out among the tules and California native plants, while mallards, shovelers, mergansers and wigeons swim in and along the edges of the lagoon. Seasonal birds might include loons, snowy plovers and ibis. Swooping shore birds include gulls, pelicans and terns. The Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society will host a field trip at the Malibu Lagoon on Sunday, May 27, starting at the parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Those interested should check the SMBAS blog for updates: smbasblog.wordpress.com. or call (424) 744-0938.
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