Although birds and people alike best know Richardson Bay as highly desirable wintertime waterbird habitat, our sanctuary waters are teeming with life during the summer as well. The brackish waters of our bay sustain a multitude of creatures just beneath the surface and many above as well.

All summer long, leopard sharks have surprised and delighted our visitors by turning up almost within reach of our shore. These colorful sharks love the shallow sandy waters of our bay, so much so that some will remain throughout the year after pupping in the spring. Leopard sharks range from Oregon to Mexico, and can be found in many bays and estuaries along the California coastline feeding on clams, spoon worms, crabs, shrimp, bony fish, and fish eggs. Leopard sharks are typically 4-5 feet long and pose almost no threat to humans.

Bat rays are equally interesting and wonderful to find, but much more difficult to spot in the water, since they hover along the bottom of the bay and can self-camouflage very effectively. Bat rays prefer estuaries and bays and also range from Oregon to the Gulf of California, but they can tolerate a range of salinities and also turn up around the Galapagos Islands. Both leopard sharks and bat rays enjoy a conservation status of ‘least concern’, which is the lowest risk category.

Along the Bay’s shoreline you may also spot the Black Oystercatcher, a slightly mis-named shorebird that feeds on mussels, worms, and other invertebrates (but not usually oysters). There are only a handful of these birds within Richardson Bay, since this species generally prefers the coast, but they are well worth the search once you find them. With a long bright red bill and a high piping whistle call, they are easy to identify by sight and sound.

This summer at the Center we are perhaps most excited about the Caspian and Elegant Terns that have turned up in record numbers to enjoy the new shoreline on Aramburu Island. This project has been our labor of love for the past several years, and the terns seem to be appreciating our efforts. In May, Caspian Terns displayed courtship behavior for the first time ever on the island, and this month we’ve seen record numbers of Elegant Terns enjoying the brand new, custom-designed shoreline.

Summer is the time of year that we encourage people to get out on the bay and enjoy the scenery, sunshine, and wildlife. And if you have a chance, send us a note to let us know what you’ve seen – we’d love to hear!

Jordan Wellwood, Center Director