Did you see an interesting animal at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve? Now you can identify many sightings in the customized SAN ELIJO LAGOON ANIMAL GUIDE, online at www.SanElijo.org/AnimalGuide
The California Kingsnake, with its brown and cream-colored stripes, or black with creamy yellow rings, is not dangerous to people. Look closely at the bottom of shallow saltwater pools: a pear-shaped creature with mottled skin and a fancy ruffle down its back is the California Sea Hare. It's a type of sea snail that's lost all but a tiny interior remnant of shell.
Want to know more? San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy launched the easy-to-use Animal Guide a year ago, featuring 70 animals that live or are seen at San Elijo Lagoon. With the addition of dozens more, the customized Animal Guide now highlights more than 100 creatures: from birds to crustaceans, mammals, reptiles, insects and more.
The White-tailed Kite is identifiable in the way this raptor hovers in place, facing the wind, in a technique known as "kiting". The Kite's overview includes links to other raptors with notable features, making it easy to click through the food web and learn about the ecosystem of San Elijo Lagoon and its fascinating inhabitants.
We invite you to enjoy the Animal Guide, and share it with others, online at SanElijo.org/AnimalGuide. Funding was made possible by the County of San Diego.
