Kern National Wildlife Refuge
Kern National Wildlife Refuge lies just south of the original
Tulare Lake Bed. This lake covered almost 1/2 million acres during
flood years and was home to millions of individual fish,
amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Although, KNWR is just a
remnant habitat, it still supports a surprising number of species.
KNWR provides wintering habitat for migrating birds, shorebirds,
marsh and waterfowl. The refuge also provides habitat for upland
species. The endangered Buena Vista Lake shrew, San Joaquin kit fox
and blunt-nosed leopard lizard make their home here.
Kern National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR) is located 18 miles west of
the city of Delano at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley of
California.. The refuge headquarters is at the junction of Garces
Highway and Corcoran Road. This 11,249-acre Kern refuge consists of
natural valley grasslands, a relict riparian corridor, and
developed marsh. A new visitor center and office complex opened in
late 1999. A year round 6.5-mile auto route leads through the some
of the wetlands. Hunting opportunities for waterfowl are jointly
managed by refuge staff and the California Dept. of Fish and
Game.
The refuge is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes
after sunset, 7 days a week for nature observations except during
hunting season.
Waterfowl hunting season runs from October through January. The
tour route is closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays during hunting
season.
California Quail
The California quail (Lophortyx californica), also known as the
valley quail, became the official state bird in 1931. A widely
distributed and prized game bird, it is known for its hardiness and
adaptability. Plump, gray-colored and smaller than a pigeon, the
California quail sports a downward curving black plume on top of
its head and black bib with white stripe under the beak. Flocks
number from a few to 60 or more in the fall and winter months, but
in the spring break into pairs. They nest in hollows scratched in
the ground and concealed by foliage, and their eggs, 6 to 28 in
number, are creamy white and thickly spotted with golden brown.