Mugu Lagoon offers view of diverse wildlife, plant life

The coastal land occupied by Naval Base Ventura County is a confluence of seashore, tidal flats and a massive freshwatershed that makes up the largest coastal estuary in southern California.

It supports a wide variety of marine life, including mammals, plants and birds.

On average, two universitylevel classes, an occasional grade-school class and six to eight birding groups visit the estuary each year.

California State University Channel Islands sits astride the Calleguas Creek regional watershed, which makes up part of Mugu Lagoon and tidal flats within the base confines.

Regular users of the base's tours and research include CSUCI, the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, Oxnard College, Civil Engineer Corps Officers School at NBVC Port Hueneme, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara.

Mugu Lagoon and environs has the largest brown pelican roost in southern California and one of the few mainland harbor seal breeding areas.

It also supports the largest population of Belding's savannah sparrow in California and the largest population of nesting least terns within Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Both Belding's savannah sparrows and least terns are state endangered species, along with the snowy plover, light-footed clapper and brown pelican, all Mugu Lagoon residents.

The area is also a staging area for migratory shorebirds traveling to Alaska.

Depending on the time of year, more than 100 species are apt to visit Mugu Lagoon from the tropics, Asia and North and South America.