Cabrillo National Monument

“It’s not too late to see me!” - Gold-crowned Sparrow (_Zonotrichia atricapilla_) This migratory bird species typically arrives to San Diego County in early October and leaves in early May. However, late stragglers have been known to linger in Point Loma into June. It’s not just birds of a feather that flock together! Often times, Gold-crowned and White-Crowned Sparrows (_Z. leucophrys_) will be found in flocks together. The chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats at Cabrillo National Monument provide them with tasty seeds, insects, and shelter uring the winter and spring months. Much like these sparrows, grab a friend and try out birding next time you want to spend a relaxing time outdoors! It’s easy, as you can use binoculars or your eyes to search the skies. It’s a great time to start, too, as a period of bird migration is now underway. NPS Photo/S. Buck Image description 1: A small, brown and white feathered Gold-crowned Sparrow with a patch of light-yellow feathers on its head, looks to the side as it sits on a wooden trail fencepost. Image description 2: A Gold-crowned Sparrow, with its long narrow tail feathers, is seen from behind as it sits on a wooden trail fencepost. #MigratoryBirds #Birding #SanDiegoBirders #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

📢 We’re hiring! Cabrillo National Monument is currently looking to fill two paid internship positions at the park. Build your skills and make an impact at San Diego’s only national park unit! 🌵 Natural Resources Management Assistant – In partnership with the Scientists-In-Parks (SIP) program. This 12-week position will assist in native plant habitat restoration and management, ethnobotany, and interpretation of our coastal sage scrub plant community. ✅ $775/week stipend + Education Award 🤝 Community Engagement Intern – In partnership with Environment for the Americas. This 27-week position will support the Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers (IEV) team by strengthening volunteer program operations, expanding community engagement efforts, and developing interpretive content. ✅ $688/week stipend + Up to $2,200/month towards housing and commuter stipend 🔗 To learn more and apply, visit the link in bio! NPS Photo/P. Geisler, S. Buck Image description 1: An intern stands behind the wooden tidepool education table as he presents to a young audience of visitors, with the Coastal trail stretching out behind him. Image description 2: An intern smiles as she chats with habitat restoration volunteers, as they remove invasive plants from the coastal sage scrub habitat. #NPSInternships #SanDiegoJobs #ScientistsInParks #CabrilloNationalMonument #Conservation #HabitatRestoration #EnvironmentalEducation #CommunityEngagement #ParkJobs #PaidInternships #SanDiegoConservation #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

This Endangered Species Day, we’re taking a moment to appreciate one of the rarest sights at Cabrillo National Monument’s tidepools: red abalone (_Haliotis rufescens_). This large marine snail, famous for its multi-colored inner shell, can be found from the low intertidal zone to a depth of 100 ft. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the red abalone population has been reduced by over 80% since the 1980s. Sadly, six of the seven species on the West Coast—the red, white, black, green, pink, and flat abalone—are listed as critically endangered. Why? Multiple factors, including over-fishing and poaching from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as well as harmful algal blooms, disease, and marine heatwaves. How can you help? Engage in responsible tidepool practices, such as stepping around abalones and never removing them from the rocks. For more ways to help, and a tale of hope, check out the link in bio to read more about abalone monitoring and restoration efforts throughout the NPS. You have the power to protect endangered species! NPS Video/P. Geisler Video description: Red Abalone steadily crawls along the intertidal bench towards a deeper puddle as visitors watch from a distance. #EndangeredSpeciesDay #Tidepools #Tidepooling #RedAbalone #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

Can you spot their dark shapes between the gentle waves? In the week after International Leopard Day, we’re shining a spotlight on a leopard under the sea...the leopard shark (_Triakis semifasciata_). During higher tides, you may see them close to shore as they visit the intertidal zone. Leopard sharks are bottom feeders, searching for clams, small fish, shore crabs, and other invertebrates. Leopard sharks have a gentle nature but will flee from humans to avoid interactions. Your best chance to glimpse these sleek, spotted sharks is when the tidepools stay calm and undisturbed. Avoiding disturbances such as throwing rocks, loud noises, and splashing can increase the chance for wildlife viewing at Cabrillo and other National Parks Click the link in bio for more information on tidepool regulations and tips. We hope you have a fin-tastic visit! NPS Video/P. Geisler Video description: A group of leopard sharks, which are easy to miss between the gentle waves and shining reflection of the water’s surface, swims in the medium-deep tidepools. Their dark shapes circle around each other. #InternationalLeopardDay #MarineProtectedArea #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

This quarter-sized octopus is approximately 2 cm long. California two-spot octopus (_ Octopus bimaculoides_) are this size at about a week after hatching. It’s incredibly tiny, and so, incredibly easy to miss or even disturb! How can you help the tiniest of tidepool life? 🐙 Leave rocks in the tidepools undisturbed! By not throwing, flipping, stacking, or removing any rocks, you are protecting the organisms that hide beneath and between them. 🐙 Cabrillo National Monument’s tidepools are part of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), a safe refuge for marine and coastal wildlife to grow. Check out the link in bio for more information on tidepool regulations and tips for your visit. NPS Video/H. Marquez Video description: A very small octopus’ mantle moves as it draws in and expels water. The camera zooms out to reveal how small it is in comparison to its rocky environment. #TwoSpotOctopus #TidepoolTips #Tidepooling #MarineProtectedArea #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

Thank you for BioBlitz-ing with us! 📸🦀🌵🐟🐝 Cabrillo National Monument has a better picture of what biodiversity looks like in its protected habitats, from the endangered Shaw’s agave (_Agave shawii_) to the frequently spotted California towhee (_Melozone crissalis_) population. Everyone who took photos or audio recordings, then uploaded them to iNaturalist, has been a major support in our park’s monitoring effort. So far, our park has contributed over 790 observations and more than 220 species to the 2026 City Nature Challenge. And there’s still more observations being added! May 11 is the final count day. 💡 Even more impressively? Throughout San Diego County, BioBlitzes have collected more than 28,780 observations and 2,570 species. Wow! Thank you to our park partner, @cnmfoundation , and all the researchers, naturalists, and volunteers who helped us make Cabrillo National Monument’s 2026 BioBlitz possible. NPS Photo/H. Marquez #CityNatureChallenge #BioBlitz #CommunityScience #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego

Who are the VIPs of Cabrillo National Monument? The Volunteers-In-Parks (VIPs) are Cabrillo National Monument’s incredible team of volunteers, who bring their time, energy, and heart to the park every single day. In 2025 alone, 430 VIPs contributed over 13,800 hours of service! They have: 🦀 Protected the tidepools, its critters, and its visitors. 🌱 Restored native habitats and plants by hand. 🐝 Monitored at-risk species on land, at sea, and in the sky. 🌈 Welcomed visitors and helped them plan a day full of memories. 🔎 Sparked curiosity and wonder as living history reenactors and community scientists. 💚 And even more tasks, behind the scenes and out in the field. National Volunteer Month is almost over, but our love for the park’s VIPs shines on...it’s brighter than the Old and New Point Loma Lighthouse combined! Thank you, VIPs! NPS Photo/H. Marquez, S. Hernandez Image description 1: A park ranger and a group of four Open Tower Day volunteers smile brightly under the shade of a Cabrillo National Monument canopy. Image description 2: A park staff member and three Living History volunteers in Victorian-era clothing are smiling as they pose in the Old Point Loma Lighthouse’s kitchen. Image description 3: A park staff member and four Weed Warrior volunteers are kneeling as they remove non-native plants by a trail. #NationalVolunteerMonth #VolunteersInParks #CabrilloNationalMonument #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

With this guided walk schedule, you can take part in exploring and documenting your favorite part of nature through Cabrillo National Monument’s BioBlitz! Join us in the City Nature Challenge as we take part in this world-wide community science effort to monitor biodiversity across different habitats. Take part in one or all of our expert-led educational walks: 🐦 9:00 am – 10:00 am 🪺 Birds 🦋 10:15 am – 11:15 am 🌻 Plants and Pollinators 🌊 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 🐙 Seaweed and Tidepools 🌱 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm 🐞 iNaturalist 101 Followed by self-guided exploration and species documentation with iNaturalist throughout the park! 📅 When: Saturday, April 25, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm 📍Where: Cabrillo National Monument 👋 Who: All ages and experience levels are welcome! ✅ How: Stop by the BioBlitz Information Station located by the Visitor Center at least 5 minutes before each walk to sign up! 🦀 Join our iNaturalist project before you arrive to snap, tag, and BioBlitz like a pro! For more information, explore our park website at: https://go.nps.gov/inat NPS Photo/H. Marquez #BioBlitz #CityNatureChallenge #CabrilloNationalMonument #NatureWalks #SanDiegoEvents #iNaturalist #Wildlife #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

Point, click, and snap at Cabrillo National Monument! Put your photography skills to work at the BioBlitz on Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, as we capture and document the park’s living landscapes. Before your visit, here’s a few tips for taking the best nature photos ever: 🐍 Be a safe and respectful nature photographer! Stay on the trail, and do not move any rocks, shells, plants, or creatures for a close-up. ⛅Keep the sun at your back! Your photos will have better lighting. 🤳️ Get in focus! Take a deep breath in and out to reduce shakiness before you press the shutter button. 🐾Check down low and up high! Whether it’s a red-tailed hawk sitting on the lighthouse, or a set of gray fox tracks along the trail, there’s a lot to see beyond your average line of sight. Happy photographing! Check out more information about Cabrillo National Monument’s BioBlitz at: https://go.nps.gov/inat NPS Photo/S. Buck, H. Marquez Image description 1: A Red-tailed Hawk sits on the metal railing of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse’s tower. Image description 2: A bright colored close-up of a Woolly Sculpin as it rests on a sandy tidepool. Image description 3: A golden-lit photo of a Sea Dahlia flower at the Coastal Trail. #BioBlitz #CityNatureChallenge #CabrilloNationalMonument #NatureWalks #SanDiegoEvents #iNaturalist #Wildlife #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

In 2025, Cabrillo National Monument’s BioBlitz logged 836 observations of 206 species. With your help, we can beat that record in 2026! You can join all the guided walks at the park throughout the day, or just one, then explore freely. For an extra layer of fun, invite your friends and family who live far away to join a BioBlitz near them. After all, the City Nature Challenge is more than a fun way to spend time in nature, or a community science effort to monitor biodiversity across different habitats. It’s also a friendly, world-wide competition between cities! 📅 When: Saturday, April 25, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm 📍Where: Cabrillo National Monument 🔍What: Four educational walks at 9:00 am, 10:15 am, 12 pm, and 2 pm, followed by self-guided exploration and species documentation with iNaturalist 👋 Who: All ages and experience levels are welcome! ✅ How: RSVP recommended at [email protected] 🦀 Join our iNaturalist project before you arrive, then snap, tag, and BioBlitz like a pro! For more information, explore our park website at: https://go.nps.gov/inat NPS Photo/S. Buck, H. Marquez, P. Simpson Image description 1: Close-ups on the rhinophores and gills of a MacFarland’s Chromodorid as it crawls along algae. Image description 2: A Brandt’s Cormorant spreads its wings to sun itself, as it looks away and towards the camera. Image description 3: Lemonade Berry flowers with five tiny petals start to bloom, and a close-up on its green berries as they start to turn red. Image description 4: Close up on a Behr’s Metalmark butterfly lands on yellow clump of flowers while a wider angle shows two Behr’s Metalmarks land side by side. #BioBlitz #CityNatureChallenge #CabrilloNationalMonument #NatureWalks #SanDiegoEvents #iNaturalist #Wildlife #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

The two-spot octopus (_Octopus bimaculoides_) is rarely seen at the tidepools due to its ability to camouflage...but thanks to a camera, this magical moment can be shared with the world. Community science is open to everyone at Cabrillo National Monument’s BioBlitz. It’s as easy as downloading the iNaturalist app and uploading your photos and audio recordings of wildlife like this octopus. Want to learn how to use iNaturalist before you go? Stop by the Visitor Center walkway, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm, on: 🐙 Saturday, April 18 🐙 Sunday, April 19 Our Science Explorer’s Cart will be ready with unique, interactive examples of San Diego’s biodiversity, and one-on-one help so you can become an iNaturalist expert. It’s a bit of BioBlitz fun for all ages! Ayuda en español disponible el domingo. NPS Video/H. Marquez Video description: A two-spot octopus, well-disguised among the kelp-covered tidepool curls its tentacles as it moves under a rock. #BioBlitz #CityNatureChallenge #CabrilloNationalMonument #NatureWalks #SanDiegoEvents #iNaturalist #Tidepools #SanDiego @cnmfoundation

It’s the battle of the bunnies! Motion-sensing camera traps capture incredible photos and video of our local wildlife that helps support the park's wildlife monitoring research. You can help us too: documenting the park’s biodiversity as a citizen scientist is as easy as pointing a cell phone camera! Cabrillo National Monument will take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge by hosting a BioBlitz, with expert-led guided walks through the park’s trails. 🐰 Saturday, April 25, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm 🐇 RSVP for more information and fee-free entry: [email protected] Join us for one walk, or all, as we battle other cities around the world to make the most observations on iNaturalist (free citizen science app on Android and iOS). NPS Video/Cabrillo National Monument Video description: One cottontail rabbit quickly hops across a small clearing in the brush, followed by another. Then, the two rabbits collide with one another as they zoom into the coastal bush sunflowers. #BioBlitz #CityNatureChallenge #CabrilloNationalMonument #NatureWalks #SanDiegoEvents #iNaturalist #SanDiego @cnmfoundation