Audubon Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Audubon Canyon |
|
|---|---|
| Martin Griffin Preserve | |
Audubon Canyon Ranch in 2009
|
|
 Audubon Canyon
Location in California
Audubon Canyon
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Marin County, California |
| Nearest city | Stinson Beach |
| Designated: | 1968 |
Audubon Canyon is a beautiful coastal valley located in Marin County, California, in the United States. It's a special place where a small stream flows towards the ocean. This canyon is a home for many different animals and plants. It's especially famous for its tall redwood trees. These giant trees provide safe nesting spots for amazing birds like great blue herons, great egrets, and snowy egrets.
The stream in Audubon Canyon starts high up on the western side of Bolinas Ridge. It then crosses a road called State Route 1. Finally, it empties into Bolinas Lagoon, which is about 3 kilometers (or 3 miles) north of Stinson Beach, California.
A group called Audubon Canyon Ranch works to protect this area. They have preserved much of the canyon as the Martin Griffin Preserve. This preserve is named after L. Martin Griffin Jr.. He was an environmentalist who helped save this area in the 1960s. He also founded the organization.
Contents
What is Audubon Canyon?
Audubon Canyon is a narrow valley along the coast in Marin County, California. It is a very important natural area. A small stream flows through the canyon, creating a rich habitat. This habitat supports many different kinds of wildlife.
Home to Amazing Wildlife
The canyon is famous for its tall redwood trees. These trees are very important for local birds. They provide safe places for birds to build their nests. You can often see large wading birds here. These include the great blue heron, the great egret, and the snowy egret. These birds rely on the canyon's healthy environment.
Protecting This Special Place
The Audubon Canyon Ranch is a private group dedicated to protecting land. They are based in the North Bay area of California. They have worked hard to save much of Audubon Canyon. This protected area is now known as the Martin Griffin Preserve. It honors L. Martin Griffin Jr.. He was a key person in saving the canyon. He helped start the organization in the 1960s. His efforts made sure this beautiful place would be protected for the future.
A National Natural Landmark
Audubon Canyon was given a special title in 1968. It was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it is a nationally important natural area. Several local groups helped make this happen. These groups included the Marin Audubon Society and the Golden Gate Audubon Society. They worked together to buy land in the canyon. Their goal was to protect the nesting sites for herons and egrets. This shows how important it was to save these birds and their homes.
