NOTES: ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW BLACK SKIMMER BREEDING COLONY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Abstract

Batiquitos Lagoon (33° 05' N, 117° 17' W) is a 241-hectare nontidal coastal wetland situated in northern San Diego County, California, within the city of Carlsbad, approximately 56 km north of San Diego and 145 km south of Los Angeles (Figure 1). The lagoon extends approximately 4 km inland from the Pacific Ocean and ranges in width from 0.2 to 0.4 km, with steep canyon slopes along the southern border and more gradual slopes to the north.