UCLA is an urban ark of extraordinary and unexpected California wildlife, with hundreds of different birds, mammals and insects all around us. Enjoy this guided tour around our amazing ecosystem.
Visitors love the 7-acre sanctuary for its incredible diversity of plant life from around the globe and for the solace it provides. Meanwhile, scientists are developing new paths to conservation there.
Above: Walking bridge, yellow-rumped warbler (known to its admirers as ‘‘butter butt”), staghorn fern, red-whiskered bulbul, puya plant, Bewick’s wren and Allen’s hummingbird
North Campus
North Campus areas include Stone Canyon Creek (above), the Anderson complex and Kaufman Hall. The species shown below are Nuttall’s woodpecker and cliff swallows nesting at Kaufman Hall.
Central Campus
The central campus areas — including Ackerman Union, the Court of Sciences, the Inverted Fountain, Knudsen Hall and Molecular Garden — are home to many colorful avian species.
Above: Cedar waxwing, red-tailed hawk and lesser goldfinch
These 3.5 acres of native California habitat are home to a wide diversity of flora and fauna. The outdoor learning space — not open to the public — hosts hands-on teaching and research opportunities.
Above: Environmental science student Izzy Hatcher with an Allen’s hummingbird, umber skipper and cabbage white butterfly
Above: Orange-crowned warbler, painted lady butterfly and California scrub jay
Pages of the Past
Credits:
Photos and videos provided by Peter Bohler and Nurit Katz. Photos by Peter Bohler: Walking path on hill; Botanical Garden: Walking bridge, yellow-rumped warbler, red-whiskered bulbul, Bewick’s wren, Allen’s hummingbird, California towhee; North Campus: Stone Canyon Creek; Central Campus: Lesser goldfinch, dark-eyed junco, cacti, mourning cloak butterfly; Sage Hill: Sage Hill entrance, student Izzy Hatcher, orange-crowned warbler. Photos by Nurit Katz: Botanical Garden: Staghorn fern, puya plant, western pond turtle with red-eared sliders, Chilopsis linearis (desert willow), neon skimmer dragonfly, western tiger swallowtail butterfly, California poppies, yellow-chevroned parakeet; North Campus: Nuttall’s woodpecker, cliff swallows; Central Campus: Cedar waxwing, red-tailed hawk, great horned owlets; Sage Hill: Allen’s hummingbird, umber skipper, cabbage white butterfly, spotted towhee, western skink, northern flicker, painted lady butterfly, California scrub jay. Videos: Lesser goldfinch by Peter Bohler; Allen's Hummingbird and cliff swallows by Nurit Katz. Map: Courtesy of Google Maps.