Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nature reserve in northern California, US
Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a nature reserve in northern California, close to the Oregon border, made up of wetlands, marshes, and working farmland set across a broad, flat basin. The area provides habitat for a wide range of bird species and other wildlife throughout the year.
The refuge was established in 1928 to protect bird habitat along one of the main migration routes on the American West Coast. Before that, much of the basin had been drained for farming, which is why today's landscape mixes wetlands and cultivated fields.
Tule Lake is known for the visible coexistence of farmland and wetlands, something you notice immediately when walking through the area. Fields of potatoes and grain sit right next to open water and marshes, giving the place a look that is unlike most other nature reserves.
The visitor center is a good starting point to pick up maps and get your bearings before heading out on the trails. The best time to spot wildlife depends on the season, as different species move through at different times of the year.
The refuge sits along one of the more heavily used stretches of the Pacific Flyway, meaning very large flocks of waterfowl can gather here in fall. This can be observed from a car along a designated auto tour route, which lets visitors watch birds without disturbing them.
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