Tijuana Estuary (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve)

Tijuana Estuary (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve) “A Wetland of International Importance” International Ramsar Convention, 2005
(621)

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve preserves, protects, and manages the natural and cultural resources of the Tijuana River Estuary by focusing on research and education with compatible recreation and resource use. The Reserve encompasses beach, dune, mudflat, salt marsh, riparian, coastal sage scrub, and upland habitats surrounded by the growing cities of Tijuana, Imperial Beac

h, and San Diego. Critical issues confronted by the Reserve include habitat restoration, endangered species management, management of the wastewater from Mexico, sediment management, and the integration of recreation and habitat conservation and restoration.

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!One of our smallest, most dazzling residents, the Anna’s hummingbird has iridescent green feath...
06/24/2026

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

One of our smallest, most dazzling residents, the Anna’s hummingbird has iridescent green feathers and the flashy ruby throats worn by the males.

Hummingbirds get their name from the humming sound their wings make. They live here and feed on flower nectar year-round. In the springtime, males can be seen climbing 130 feet into the air and swooping to the ground with a "pop" made by their tail feathers.

Hummingbirds have tiny legs, so they can't hop or walk, but they can fly backwards!

The Tijuana River Estuary is a great place to spot local wildlife. The wetland is home to an abundance of both native an...
06/22/2026

The Tijuana River Estuary is a great place to spot local wildlife.

The wetland is home to an abundance of both native and migratory animals. While birds are the most common sighting here, there is also a wide array of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates that live throughout the land and waters of the Estuary.

©William Bay

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!This beautiful bird is the California gnatcatcher. A very petite bird with a long black tail, t...
06/17/2026

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

This beautiful bird is the California gnatcatcher.

A very petite bird with a long black tail, the California gnatcatcher flits through the coastal sage scrub habitat from Southern California to northern Baja California. They may be hard to see, but they have a distinct meow that could help you spot one!

Photo © Marc Arndt

Meet our team!Jessie Looney is an Interpreter I for California State Parks and serves as an Education Specialist for the...
06/15/2026

Meet our team!

Jessie Looney is an Interpreter I for California State Parks and serves as an Education Specialist for the Reserve. Jessie volunteered with TRNERR in 2018 as a restoration guide and education docent. In 2024, she became a permanent member of the TRNERR team. She's also the one usually posting on our social accounts!

As a San Diego native, Jessie is proud to teach others about the most biodiverse county in the continental U.S. and is particularly passionate about bird conservation and wetland ecology.

©Michael O Snyder

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!The Cliff swallow, known for its mythical return to the San Juan Capistrano mission, also grace...
06/10/2026

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

The Cliff swallow, known for its mythical return to the San Juan Capistrano mission, also graces the Tijuana Estuary every spring!

You will rarely see a swallow sitting still, as they spend their time foraging for insects and building their mud nests in colonies with other birds. A mated pair can gather over 1,000 mud pellets! Their nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and cannot be removed until empty.

Happy World Oceans Day!The Tijuana River Estuary is the coastal wetland where the freshwater Tijuana River meets the Pac...
06/08/2026

Happy World Oceans Day!

The Tijuana River Estuary is the coastal wetland where the freshwater Tijuana River meets the Pacific Ocean.

Our watershed - all the land that drains into the estuary - covers 1,750 square miles, and reaches from the Laguna Mountains all the way to the Pacific coast in Imperial Beach.

©Surfrider Foundation and Veriditas Rising

Happy World Environment Day from the Tijuana River Estuary! Come stroll our trails and take in the wild beauty of the on...
06/05/2026

Happy World Environment Day from the Tijuana River Estuary! Come stroll our trails and take in the wild beauty of the only estuary of its kind in Southern California.

©William Bay

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!We'd like to introduce you to one of our migratory birds: the American Widgeon. These Fall/Wint...
06/03/2026

Happy Wildlife Wednesday!

We'd like to introduce you to one of our migratory birds: the American Widgeon.

These Fall/Winter visitors are easily found in flocks along shallow shorelines and mudflats of the marsh. They are opportunistic feeders known to follow other ducks and steal their leftovers that float to the surface.

Celebrate accessibility in parks Saturday, June 13 at the Tijuana Estuary!With ADA-accessible trails, nature walks with ...
06/03/2026

Celebrate accessibility in parks Saturday, June 13 at the Tijuana Estuary!

With ADA-accessible trails, nature walks with American Sign Language interpretation, a new wayfinding installation for blind and low vision visitors, and sensory-friendly spaces, all are welcome to experience our unique salt marsh.

Parks are for everyone to enjoy! This event is free, registration preferred but not required. https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/3d1149315a404f88bcf6ebc86bda1ef0?field%3Aevent_id=83677d2c-3386-4737-8250-d9cddb41ee79&utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnipsKIaQ36J4ACqFIxqGJqiwy8-A1fD33QJL7hypScpxWJHJLIs9TGXJuEoc_aem_uXyY9Sqj5j7LZfQhjE9ebA

Address

301 Caspian Way
Imperial Beach, CA
91932

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tijuana Estuary (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category