Biologists accompany students (22759833039)

Students from Anacapa Middle School joined FWS biologists Michael Glenn and Mark Ogonowski at the Ventura Harbor Wetlands Ecological Reserve for a day of birding. Treated waste water from the City of Ventura's Water Reclamation Facility, adjacent to the reserve, is discharged into the estuary after flowing through a series of wildlife ponds for about four days or delivered to reclaimed water customers. Students learned about the water treatment and testing process, while identifying the diverse range of bird species that use the area, from Great blue herons to coots, brown pelicans to snowy egrets. Most of the naturally occurring wetland areas of southern California have been lost to urbanization, so this site provides important habitat for many species.

Photos by Ashley Spratt/USFWS.