Uniquely is a Modesto Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Central Valley so special.
When people think of bird-watching, they likely envision parks, beaches and wildlife refuges. But wastewater treatment plants, not so much.
The city of Modesto’s secondary wastewater treatment plant , at 7007 Jennings Road, not only provides agricultural irrigation to the region but also offers a unique birding experience.
Tucked off Jennings Road about 14 miles west of Turlock, the plant takes in thousands of acres. Past some administrative buildings sit large ponds of treated water spanning a combined mile wide.
Besides the more common inhabitants of the ponds for most of the year, the fall and winter migrations lead to uncommon, even rare bird sightings. There are records of surf scoters, Eurasian wigeons, Arctic terns, tufted ducks and so many more using the ponds for wintering.
“You can see thousands of one species of duck,” said Salvatore Salerno, president of the Stanislaus Audubon Society. “There’s a bird called northern shoveler that winters there by the thousands. Modestans don’t generally see that.”