The (wing)beat goes on

The ailing Salton Sea is still kicking, perhaps in part because of the late Sonny Bono. Before his death in a 1998 skiing accident, the pop music hit maker-turned-California representative squeezed his colleagues in Congress for money to prevent the certain death of a longtime winter haven for migrating waterfowl. Although sickly, the marshy edges of California’s largest lake remain a critical hangout for snow, Ross’ and Canada geese and for the California brown pelican, Yuma clapper rail, fulvous whistling-duck, wood stork, white-faced ibis and many other species. As an important destination on the Pacific Flyway, the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge -- one of 538 U.S. refuges that encompass 95 million acres -- is a magnet for birding enthusiasts, particularly this month and next as temperatures in the inferno-like Imperial Valley hover in the more tolerable double digits.

Formed about 100 years ago when a Colorado River levee break flooded a low-lying alkaline basin, the Salton Sea once drew more visitors each year than Yosemite National Park. But by the 1970s, the evaporating waters had grown heavy with salt, sewage and agricultural runoff. Birds and fish died. Tourists steered clear. Today, debates about how to fix the Salton Sea and environs continue to simmer and boil while birders from around the world keep coming.

For details on visiting the refuge, go to pacific.fws.gov/salton/default.htm. For information on the Salton Sea International Bird Festival, on Feb. 13-16, go to www.newriverwetlands.com/saltonsea.html.