A rare purple gallinule has drawn hundreds of bird-watchers to the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary following the first documented sighting of the species in Orange County.
The juvenile bird – typically native to the Gulf Coast, Caribbean and South America – was first spotted Aug. 13. The visit marks only the eighth recorded appearance of a purple gallinule in California since 1961, pending review by the California Bird Records Committee.
The 300-acre sanctuary, recognized by the International Society of Wetland Scientists as California’s only “Wetland of Distinction,” hosts more than 300 bird species throughout the year. Visitors can explore 12 miles of walking trails during daylight hours or join educational tours organized by the Sea & Sage Audubon Society and Discovery Cube.
