Where The SUN, Southwestern College meets the WiLDCOAST: J Street Marsh-an aviary paradise in an industrial hell

Sunday, July 25, 2010

J Street Marsh-an aviary paradise in an industrial hell

Many say the survival and evolution of humans comes from their ability to adapt. I disagree. Humans overpower and force the earth to adjust to poor judgment. Oil stretching throughout the Gulf of Mexico is a manifesto of human intention and its inability to acclimatize to the environment of this planet.

J Street Marsh is a paradigm of nature’s ability to adjust in a defiled environment. Encompassed by industrial district and toxic waste, this marsh is still a home and feeding grounds for hundreds of native and migrating birds.

BIRD IN PARADISE: J Street Marsh is a perfect location for for birdwatchers to see snowy egrets wandering through the marsh.

Chula Vista Marina View Park is an excellent spot that provides a close look at the wildlife reliant in the solitary brackish estuarine area on the east side of the bay.

CHULA VISTA MARINA VIEW PARK: A small channel divides the park from the marshlands allowing visitors a close view of the natural habitat and wildlife dependent on this brackish estuarine environment.

Recently, in doing research on the current Chula Vista Master Bayfront Plan, I took my first trip to this tiny piece of paradise. Revisiting this spot several times now, I am learning habits of shore birds and how much of their behavior depend on tides.

One thing you can count on is that there is always activity in the marsh and the bay, a constant open curtain to a living opera.

Sandpipers fill the area at low tide surrounded by egrets. During high tide, egrets wander the marsh as gulls, pelicans and terns fly and dive. With a close-up stunning view, a habitat deserves to survive— and thrive.

LIVING SYMPHONY: During low tide a multitude of shore birds can be seen throughout the mud flats and marshes.

LONE SANDPIPER: With the mud flats full of sandpipers, this loner picks the edges of the channel.

PENINSULA OF BIRDS: Seemingly always covered with gulls and other shore birds, this small peninsula allows visitors an in the bay view of the marina and marshes.

GREAT EGRET: Deeper into the marsh this great egret is still recognizable with its long yellow beak and larger size.

Contaminating the bay for 50 years the South Bay Power Plant continuously kills billions of estuarine life with water cooling, magnitude and proximity. Air quality is poor due to its permissions of deadly waste and warm water discharged has created a border disabling marshlands to grow. To preserve this miniature bit of Eden, the power plant must go.