Marin Islands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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View of both Marin Islands, from the East Peak of Mount Tamalpais.
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 Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Location in California
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Pablo Bay, Marin County, California, U.S. |
| Nearest city | San Rafael, California |
| Established | 1992 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge |
The Marin Islands are two small islands located in San Rafael Bay, California. They are named East Marin and West Marin. These islands are a very important natural area. They are part of the Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect many animals and plants.
About the Marin Islands Refuge
The Marin Islands are found off the coast of San Rafael. This city is in the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The islands and the waters around them make up the Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This special area was created in 1992.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns these islands. Because they are a wildlife refuge, you need special permission to visit them. This helps keep the animals and their homes safe.
A Look Back in Time
The islands are named after a Coast Miwok man known as Chief Marin. Marin County was also named after him. People believe Chief Marin hid on these islands in the 1820s. He had escaped from Mission San Rafael Arcángel. Later, he was recaptured and held at the Mexican Presidio of San Francisco.
The islands were once owned by the Crowley family from San Francisco. Thomas Crowley bought them in 1926 for $25,000. He hoped they would become the end point for the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge. But that did not happen. Instead, the islands became a family vacation spot for over sixty years. The Crowley family later gave the islands to the United States government.
Amazing Island Wildlife
West Marin Island is about 26 meters (85 feet) above the water. It is home to the largest group of herons and egrets in the San Francisco Bay Area. This nesting place is called a rookery. Many different birds come here to lay their eggs and raise their young.
Some of the birds that nest here include:
East Marin Island used to be a vacation spot. Now, it has many different plants. Some plants were brought there by people, and others are native to the area. These plants provide important materials for nests. They also offer resting places for the birds from the nearby colony.
The waters around the islands are also full of life. They support many water birds that live there all year or migrate through. These birds include:
The main goals of the refuge are to protect these migrating birds. They also work to protect and restore the birds' habitat. This includes the tidal mud flats and the special island ecosystem.
See also
In Spanish: Islas Marín para niños
