Community Celebrates a 'Not-so-Scary Estuary' at San Elijo Lagoon

The weather was perfect for Not-so-Scary Estuary at San Elijo Lagoon, a pre-Halloween event that featured nocturnal creatures that “spirit” the lagoon after sunset. Heavy coastal fog and mist enveloped the Halloween-spirited activities presented along the nature trail and inside San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23, more than 750 people attended Not-so-Scary Estuary, part of the Family Discovery Days series held at the nature center.

Costumes were encouraged and many little ones were dressed up and ready to explore the not-so-scary lives of birds, mammals, and insects seen at San Elijo Lagoon. Activities included trick-or-treating along the "haunted hike” nature trail, with animal clues and sightings. Taxidermy of large animals of prey, such as a coyote, owl, and bobcat, peered back at visitors on the boardwalk, concealed in the marsh environment. The orb-weaving Argiope spiders were a big hit with kids who could see them stretched across Prickly Pear cactuses, swaying in the center of the web with the afternoon winds. Children dissected owl pellets, felt various mammal pelts, made animal track print booklets, and animal mask bags.

Skyhunters presented on Saturday and brought rescued owls to meet visitors. Project Wildlife presented on Sunday and introduced a rescued bat, and raccoon. The shy raccoon reached for treats from the trainers with a dexterity in its paws that seemed like tiny human hands.

For many, it was a first time to explore and play in nature in one of San Diego’s largest coastal wetlands, the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. 

Family Discovery Days is presented by San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy and San Diego County Parks & Recreation. The next Family Days is “Wings over Wetlands” on Jan. 21 and 22. During the height of bird migration, activities will connect children and families with our feathered residents, and those birds that come from afar on the annual Pacific flyway migration. Approximately 40 percent of the nation’s bird species have been sighted in the San Elijo Lagoon. For more information about Family Days, visit www.SanElijo.org/Family-Days.