Baylands Nature Preserve

The Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto is one of the largest tracts of undisturbed salt marsh remaining in the San Francisco Bay. This 1,940-acre preserve along the edge of the bay provides critical habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, and marsh-dwelling species along the Pacific Flyway.

The preserve's interpretive center sits at the edge of the marsh, with a boardwalk and levee trails providing excellent views across the wetlands. Burrowing Owls are resident on the levees and are one of the preserve's signature species. The marsh hosts Ridgway's Rail, Black Rail (extremely rare), and nesting Snowy Plovers. Spring migration brings peak shorebird numbers — thousands of Western Sandpipers, Dunlin, and both dowitcher species feed on the mudflats at low tide. White-tailed Kites hunt over the adjacent grasslands.