Santa Cruz County, California – There are approximately 400 migratory and permanent bird species found throughout Santa Cruz County, and thousands of monarch butterflies, whales, and elephant seals which call the area home on a seasonal basis.  Avid wildlife viewers now have an updated resource, thanks to Visit Santa Cruz County's Wildlife Watching Guide. 

Now in its seventh printing, the free 56-page guide is designed to help navigate the various communities adjacent to premiere birding destinations throughout the county.  The guide includes information on a variety of habitats, from sandy beaches to lagoons, wetlands and river mouths, as well as descriptions and fresh photography of the some of the area's most commonly seen birds, wildlife and the best times of the year to view them.  The San Vicente Redwoods is a recent addition to the guide. 

Information on where and how to view wintering monarch butterflies, migrating whales and elephant seals is also featured.  The guide provides maps of birding and wildlife hotspots, points of interest and itineraries. 

The guide is available to download and by emailing VSCC. For more information on wildlife watching opportunities in Santa Cruz County, visit SantaCruz.org 

###  

Getting There:   

Located along the Central Coast, Santa Cruz County, California, is approximately 70 miles/113 km south of San Francisco and 349 miles/562 km from Los Angeles. Many visitors choose to take scenic Highway 1 along the California coastline to Santa Cruz or Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Visitors can also choose to fly into San Francisco International Airport or San Jose Mineta International Airport.   

Press Contact:  

Christina Glynn, Director of Communications  

Visit Santa Cruz County   

Phone:  +1.831.429.7281 ext. 112.  

Email:  cglynn@santacruz.org.  

Mail:  303 Water Street, #100, Santa Cruz, CA  95060  

About VSCC: A private, non-profit corporation, Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) exists to enhance tourism and the economy by positioning Santa Cruz County as a visitor, conference, and film destination. For more information, contact VSCC at +1.831.425.1234 or visit VSCC's website at SantaCruz.org.