Dozens of volunteers descended on the Bolsa Chica Wetlands last weekend to dig native trails and plant native vegetation.

One of the best signs of progress is the return of the endangered California Gnatcatcher at the wetlands. Kolpin said, “When we first started a lot of scientists said, ‘Oh, you’re never going to have gnatcatchers at Bolsa Chica again, because you can’t bring it back.’ Well, we brought it back. We were able to restore the area with a habitat that it wants, and lo and behold the bird is here.

Bolsa Chica is part of the Orange Coast Wetlands Important Bird Area.