With about 50,000 cubic yards of dirt delivered to our Tidal Marsh Restoration Project site and our restoration plan complete, the Tidal Wetland Project -- a collaborative endeavor of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and Elkhorn Slough Foundation -- has started a formal environmental review process.

Reserve researchers have also begun designing experiments to monitor the success of this unique restoration effort in improving the health of the marsh and its wildlife.

Our special thanks go to Graniterock for their generous support of the Tidal Marsh Restoration Project, ensuring special care and consideration for this sensitive habitat.

The fall migration season has started, and we've been seeing all sorts of birds at the slough -- soaring American white pelicans, spinning red-necked phalaropes, and flitting Western bluebirds.

 

We've also been seeing birders by the drove!  Perhaps they're getting geared up for the 10th Annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival, which runs from September 25-28.

Or maybe they read the recent Sentinel article about an Early Bird walk led by Monterey Bay birding expert Rick Fournier. Reserve Early Bird tours are offered on the first Saturday of every month at 8:30am.

And if you want to identify fall shorebirds, register for ESF's Fall Birding outing, which Rick will lead on the morning of Saturday, November 15.