A former sewage pond on the edge of La Paz now hosts 250 bird species and 13,000 individual birds per year, making it the second most important birdwatching site in Baja California Sur. Víctor Omar Ayala Pérez, a research professor at UABCS (the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur), said the ecopark’s artificial freshwater wetland has drawn migratory species that never visited the area before, and that its tourism potential is significant.
The site sits inside La Paz city limits, built on what were once wastewater oxidation ponds. Today, the lagoons receive treated water from the municipal treatment plant. That steady freshwater supply created habitat in a region where natural freshwater is scarce, and birds responded. The most abundant species is the Western Sandpiper, a migratory shorebird that uses the ecopark for wintering, stopovers, and feeding. Duck species from the Anatidae family also arrive in large numbers each winter, including the Northern Shoveler, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, and Ruddy Duck.
From Sewage Lagoons to Wetland Habitat Since 2000
The transformation began in 2000 when the UABCS Bird Laboratory and ProNatura Noroeste, a regional conservation nonprofit, started collaborating with the La Paz city government. Before that collaboration, the oxidation ponds were essentially a wastewater dump with little ecological value. Over 25 years, the partners converted the ponds into managed wetland habitat by improving water quality and restoring vegetation.
Other organizations joined over time, including Niparajá, a La Paz conservation group, and Cómo Vamos La Paz, a civic accountability organization. The multi-group effort has produced measurable results. Researchers recorded 13,000 individual birds at the site last year alone, and the species count has climbed steadily. The ecopark now trails only the Bahía de La Paz estuary system as a birdwatching destination in the state.
One benchmark of the project’s success: the Ruddy Duck began breeding at the ecopark two to three years ago, a direct result of management and conservation work by the UABCS Bird Laboratory and ProNatura Noroeste. Before that, the species only wintered at the site. The Least Grebe, which had abandoned the area entirely due to habitat decline, also returned after the wetland recovery.
Ayala Pérez said the ecopark hosts the Baja California Sur masked duck, an endemic species found only on the peninsula. Rails, coots, and various terrestrial bird species also use the site year-round.
La Paz Ecopark Birdwatching Peaks in Winter Months
Most of the ecopark’s migratory ducks breed in the northern United States and Canada during summer, then spend October through March in Baja California Sur. That makes the winter dry season the peak window for birdwatching visits. During summer months, the migratory ducks are absent, though resident species like the Black-bellied Whistling Duck and the newly breeding Ruddy Duck remain.
The ecopark is located on the southern edge of La Paz, accessible by car from the city center in roughly 15 minutes. Unlike remote birding sites on the peninsula that require a boat or a long dirt-road drive, the ecopark sits within city limits. Visitors can walk the paths along the lagoon edges and observe birds at close range.
Baja California Sur has been expanding its ecotourism offerings beyond whale watching and snorkeling in recent years. The state government’s tourism strategy has emphasized nature-based activities, and La Paz in particular has positioned itself as an alternative to Los Cabos for travelers seeking a quieter, more ecological experience. The ecopark fits that positioning. BCS recorded over 4 million tourist visits in 2024, and state officials have targeted ecotourism as a growth segment.
Ayala Pérez said the La Paz model could be replicated elsewhere. Any city with a wastewater treatment plant producing water that meets ecological standards (but not drinking water standards) could potentially create similar habitat. The key, the researcher said, is sustained collaboration between universities, conservation groups, and municipal government.
The UABCS Bird Laboratory plans to continue annual bird counts at the ecopark through 2026, and ProNatura Noroeste is working with the city on further habitat improvements. The ecopark is open to visitors year-round, with the best migratory bird viewing between November and February. This story was first reported by El Sudcaliforniano.