| Visitation: 15,000 annually | ||
| Area: 30,000 Acres | ||
| Lat: 40.769078 | ||
| Lon: 122.342564 | ||
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| Packers Bay/Shasta Lake - Site # 154 | |||
| A diverse birdwatching experience along beautiful Shasta Lake! | |||
 | Premium - the most significant sites, worth visiting if you have limited time. Premium sites have high wildlife values year-round, staff on site, interpretive programs and/or displays, and well-developed facilities. | ||
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| Background: | Enjoy some of California's best views of nesting ospreys and bald eagles while at popular Shasta Lake. The 370-mile forested shoreline hosts 60 osprey nests and 18 bald eagle nests-the state's largest population of these species on a single reservoir. Whether boating or hiking, begin exploring the lake from Packers Bay. | ||
| The Habitat: | Follow the Packers Bay trails along the shoreline and among oaks, chaparral, and heavily forested slopes. | ||
| The Experience: | Experience a rich diversity of habitats, birds and mammals along beautiful Lake Shasta. Breathtaking views will include Mt. Shasta and Castle Crags in the distance. | ||
| Wildlife and Where to Find It: | Ospreys visible March through October; peak nesting May and June. See resident eagles fall through spring. Many spring songbirds. Take a drive and see more ospreys and eagles at Jones Valley Inlet; on the way, stop at Pit River Arm to see nesting purple martins. Watch the lake for double–crested cormorants, western grebes, mallards, and gulls. Follow the Packers Bay trails along the shoreline and among oaks, chaparral, and heavily forested slopes. Look for the mule deer, acorn woodpeckers, ash-throated flycatchers, oak titmice, California thrasher, mountain quail, and wild turkeys in the open chaparral. Myriads of migratory songbirds, as well as occasional raccoons and river otters, may be spotted along the creeks and shoreline. | ||
| Viewing Tips: | Look near the tops of shoreline or ridgeline trees for the ospreys' stick nests. Bald eagles hide their bulky nests within the shady branches of ponderosa pines. Scan the lake to see these acrobtic flyers fishing. Don't confuse them with another common dark bird of prey-the turkey vulture. Also watch the lake for double-crested cormorants, western grebes, mallards, and gulls. Follow the Packers Bay trails along the shoreline and amoung oaks, chaparral, and heavily forested slopes. Look for mule deer, acorn woodpeckers, ash-throated flycatchers, plain titmice, mountain quail, and wild turkeys in the open chaparral. Myriads of swallows, warblers, and migratory birds, as well as occasional raccoons and river otters, may be spotted along the creeks and shorelines. | ||
| Nearby Viewing Sites: | Lewiston Lake/Trinity River Hatchery - Weaverville | ||
| Festivals & Events: | Coleman Fish Hatchery Annual Return of the Salmon Festival - Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Shasta Wildlife maintains a booth at the Salmon Festival every year. Volunteers will be available to answer your questions. The Salmon Festival is held every year on the 3rd Saturday in October. For more information see the Coleman Fish Hatchery website. | ||
| Visitor Information: | Shasta Cascade Wonderland Assn -- California Welcome Center - (530) 365-1180 - http://tinyurl.com/h5wd7zb | ||
| Viewing Site Hours of Operation are: | |||
| Staff On-site: | No | ||
| Open: | |||
| Hours: | |||
| Year Round: | Yes | ||
| Road Information: |  Paved.  Gravel.  Dirt. | ||
| Road Hazards: Watch for ice during winter months | |||
 Number of Parking Spaces: 0 | |||
| Parking Fee: No | |||
| Proximity to viewing area:View at Parking Area | |||
 Pull-Through Parking: Yes | |||
| Parking Danger: Narrow access roads | |||
| How to Get There: | From Redding, take Interstate 5 north 17 miles to the O'Brien exit. Turn left, drive underneath highway, then board on-ramp for Interstate 5 south. Drive 1.5 miles south to Packers Bay exit; turn west; Travel 1.5 miles on Packers Bay Road to boat ramp and trailhead. | ||
| Contact Information | |||
| Managing Agency: | USDA Forest Service Shasta Lake Visitor Center | ||
| Agency Site URL: | http://tinyurl.com/jhmd7jm | ||
| Physical Address: | 14225 Holiday Road Redding, CA 96003 |
Agency 2: | , CA |
| Manager Phone: | |||
| Site Phone: | (530) 275-1587 | ||
| County: | Shasta | ||
| Addition Website: | |||