
Midway between Interstate 5 and US-99, 15 miles from Los Banos and 11 miles from Merced California, is the approximate geographic center of California’s Central Valley. It is also the site of the 10,000+ acre Merced National Wildlife Refuge.

Prior to the “civilization” of the west, the entire Central Valley of California was a destination for huge numbers, perhaps billions of wintering waterfowl. Most of the valley is a low lying river bottom and flood plain. Following the discovery of yellow metal in the mid nineteenth century, the floodgates opened, and hordes of get-rich-quick wannabes poured in. After the gold played out, many of the new immigrants found the land rich with potential for agriculture, and so started the competition between species for dominance of the resources here. Not only were the fields converted to human uses, a wholesale slaughter of geese and ducks began, justified by the “need to feed the thousands of new immigrants”. I read reports that wagon loads of killed birds were “harvested”.
In the early 1800s there was an enormous 13,670 square mile lake at the southern end of the Central Valley called Tulare Lake. It was separated from the rest of the valley by an alluvial dam that held back the 200 foot deep lake, but in times of high runoff the water would overflow and fall into the San Joaquin river. During the period of 1850 to 1879 there was extensive flooding, but since then the water has been diverted for agricultural development, and now this lake is gone, leaving only a dry bed.
Allocation of lands for protecting wildlife was brought on as much by the conflict between a species bent on profit, and a host of native species desperate for survival. By the early 1950s local farmers raised concerns that wildfowl were damaging their crops. In 1951 steps were taken to establish a refuge outside of Merced California. The first refuge in the Central Valley (Sacramento NWR) was started in 1937, and the process continued until the last refuge (San Joaquin NWR) was established in 1987.
This idea got me thinking. In those 50 years, how much have we “preserved”? I did some math:
Beginning Year | Acreage | |
Merced NWR | 1952 | 10,262 |
San Luis NWR | 1966 | 26,800 |
San Joaquin NWR | 1987 | 7,000 |
Sacramento NWR | 1937 | 10,775 |
Colusa NWR | 1945 | 5,077 |
Kern NWR | 1960 | 11,249 |
Sutter NWR | 1945 | 2,591 |
Delevan NWR | 1962 | 5,877 |
Total Acreage in the Central Valley | 79,631 |
The Central Valley is roughly 18,000 sq mi or 11.52 million acres. The total NWR acreage in the valley is 79,631 acres, or 0.69% of the Central Valley. To be fair, there are other reserves in the valley besides the NWR’s listed, but I don’t believe they add more than a few thousand acres. It would still seem that less than 1% of the land in this great valley has been set aside for wildlife. Some, like Delevan NWR are not open to the public, but is open to hunters in season. To be fair, much of the funding to create these reserves was supplied through the purchase of hunting permits.
In a previous post I stated, “In the past two centuries we’ve transformed the land from settled islands amid a sea of natural landscapes, into islands of wildness within a sea of civilization.” The discussion above quantifies this process and provides a perspective in scale.
I’ve visited Merced National Wildlife Reserve on three occasions, all were winter visits. Twice in December 2011 I went exploring and I learned that this location was a Mecca for Ross’s Geese. Every time prior to this experience, when I met massive numbers of white geese, nearly all members were Snow Geese with a scattering of Ross’s Geese mixed in. I found the reverse was true here; nearly all the white geese were Ross’s. I also met my first American Bittern here in 2011. In January 2019 I revisited this reserve, but I did not encounter the Ross’s Geese in the numbers like my 2011 visit. On each of these occasions I met many other avian species. The gallery below shows some examples of the birds to be found here.

Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus) |
Description: Shorebirds find this reserve as attractive as do the waterfowl. Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 13:21 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X4891-Killdeer |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus) |
Description: A raptor on patrol at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 13:28 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X4901-NorthernHarrier |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Wilson's Snipe(Gallinago delicata) |
Description: Out for a stroll at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California USA 2011-12-27. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 13:30 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4907-WilsonsSnipe |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus) |
Description: Shorebirds find this reserve as attractive as do the waterfowl. Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 14:06 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X4948-BlackNeckedStilt |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Wilson's Snipe(Gallinago delicata) |
Description: Shorebirds find this reserve as attractive as do the waterfowl. Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 14:28 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5010-WilsonsSnipe |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Pipit(Anthus rubescens) |
Description: Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 14:45 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5050-AmericanPipit |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias) |
Description: A resident bird at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 14:55 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X5093-GreatBlueHeron |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax) |
Description: Juvenile bird at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 15:59 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X5185-BlackCrownedNightHeron-Juvenile |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Pintail(Anas acuta) |
Description: On the move at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:13 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5200-NorthernPinTail |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Kestrel(Falco sparverius) |
Description: Feasting on a sparrow at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:19 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5221-AmericanKestrel |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Kestrel(Falco sparverius) |
Description: Feasting on a sparrow at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:20 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X5232-AmericanKestrel |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
Description: Ross’s Geese by the thousands at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:31 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X5321-RossGeese |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
Description: Ross’s Geese near sunset foraging at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:53 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5511-RossGeese |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
Description: Ross’s Geese at sunset landing at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 16:57 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5580-RossGeese |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
Description: Ross’s Geese at sunset landing at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 17:19 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X5639-RossGeese |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
Description: Ross’s Geese at sunset foraging at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 17:30 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X5656-RossGeese |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
Description: Ross’s Geese at sunset landing at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:27 17:36 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5674-RossGeese |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus) |
Description: Resting quietly at Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 9:44 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X5912-GreatHornedOwl |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: My first encounter with this species. Stealth walking at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:06 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X5959-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus) |
Description: My first encounter with this species. Stalking a meal at Merced NWR, south of Merced, in California's Central Valley USA 2011-12-29. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:07 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X5971-AmericanBittern |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Black-Necked Stilt(Himantopus mexicanus) |
Description: Shorebirds find this reserve as attractive as do the waterfowl. Merced NWR, south of Merced, California USA. 2011-12-29 |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:11 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5979-BlackNeckedStilt |
© 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos) |
Description: Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:32 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X5998-NorthernMockingBird |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta) |
Description: Merced NWR, south of Merced, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:29 10:44 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6019-WesternMeadowLark |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Coot(Fulica americana) |
Description: These birds probably spend the entire year here. Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 13:21 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: AmericanCoot_D507120-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia) |
Description: (Melospiza melodia) Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 13:25 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: SongSparrow_D507131-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: (Agelaius phoeniceus) Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 13:38 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: RedWingedBlackBird-Female_D507173-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
Description: (Anser caerulescens) Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 13:39 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGeese_D507177-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Shoveler(Spatula clypeata) |
Description: (Anas clypeata) Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 13:40 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 490 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: NorthernShoveler_D507189-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: Shorebirds find this reserve as attractive as do the waterfowl. Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 13:51 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D507256-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Sandhill Crane(Antigone canadensis) |
Description: California's Central Valley hosts significant numbers of cranes in winter. Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 14:20 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: SandhillCrane_D507343-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis) |
Description: (Passerculus sandwichensis) Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 14:36 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: SavannahSparrow_D507400-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
Description: White geese winter here by the thousands. Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 14:47 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/10.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: SnowGeese_D507459-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Black-Tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus californicus) |
Description: (Lepus californicus) Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:15 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlackTailedJackRabbit_D507678-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys) |
Description: A winter visitor seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:16 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 460 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteCrownedSparrow_D507706-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Great Egret(Ardea alba) |
Description: This bird was seen foraging at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:17 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 450 mm, f/10.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: GreatEgret_D507709-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Long-Billed Curlew(Numenius americanus) |
Description: Shorebirds find this reserve as attractive as do the waterfowl. Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:21 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 450 mm, f/10.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LongBilledCurlew_D507736-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Marsh Wren(Cistothorus palustris) |
Description: A vocal resident seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 12:41 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: MarshWren_D507088-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Shoveler(Spatula clypeata) |
Description: A pair seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:48 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 460 mm, f/10.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: NorthernShoveler_D507761-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus) |
Description: Seen at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 15:50 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/10.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: PeregrineFalcon_D507768-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: Seen on the move at the Merced National Wildlife Reserve on 2019-01-26, twelve miles southwest of the town of Merced, Merced County California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:26 16:10 |
Location:
Merced NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 310 mm, f/10.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D507869-Merced-NWR |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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