Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	San Diego County, California, United States
Nearest city	Imperial Beach, California
Area	2,521 acres (10.20 km2)
Established	1980
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge

The Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge is a special place in the very southwest corner of the United States. It's like a protected home for many animals and plants. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes care of this refuge. It was created in 1980 to help protect nature.

This refuge is part of a bigger area called the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. This reserve is one of 22 similar places across the country. These reserves help scientists and the public learn more about estuaries. An estuary is where a river meets the sea. Learning about them helps us manage these important areas better. The refuge is also part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

What is the Tijuana Slough Refuge?

The Tijuana Slough is one of the biggest salt marshes left in southern California. A salt marsh is a coastal wetland that is flooded by ocean tides. What makes this one special is that it doesn't have roads or train tracks cutting through it. This important marsh is surrounded by San Diego County and Tijuana, Mexico. About 4.3 million people live nearby.

Even with so many people around, the refuge provides key homes for many animals. It's a vital stop for shorebirds and waterfowl that fly along the Pacific Flyway. The Pacific Flyway is like a superhighway in the sky for birds migrating between Alaska and Patagonia.

Protecting Endangered Animals and Plants

The Tijuana Slough is a very important home for several endangered species. These are animals and plants that are at risk of disappearing forever.

Some of the endangered animals found here include:

• The California least tern (Sterna antillarum browni)
• The light-footed rail (Rallus obsoletus levipes)
• The least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus)

There's also an endangered plant called the salt marsh bird's-beak (Cordylanthus maritimus maritimus).

The American Bird Conservancy has even called this refuge a "Globally Important Bird Area." This means it's super important for birds all over the world. More than 370 different kinds of birds have been seen here!

How the Refuge Helps Nature

The people who manage the refuge work hard to help endangered species recover. They do this in a few ways:

• Research: Scientists study the animals and plants to understand what they need to survive.
• Habitat Restoration: They work to fix and improve the natural homes (habitats) for these species.
• Environmental Education: They teach people, especially kids, about the importance of protecting nature. This helps everyone understand why places like the Tijuana Slough are so valuable.