Rotary Nature Center and Waterfowl Refuge

Rotary Nature Center and Waterfowl Refuge is located at Bellevue Avenue in Oakland, California and is approximately 25 minutes from Oakland International Airport. The center is located in the Lakeside Park and is open daily from 9am to 4pm daily throughout the year. It is an interpretive establishment constructed in 1953 providing educational programs and exhibits about the natural environment.

Established in 1870, the refuge is the oldest in North America and gives members of the public the opportunity to observe migratory waterfowl on Lake Merritt at close range. The Rotary Nature Center hosts a bird feeding session at 3pm each day, which anyone can join. Amongst the birds to be found here there are geese, herons, ducks, egrets and an American White Pelican.

There are also various summer camps, classes and events held here with various pieces of literature about wildlife and nature available from the center. Lake Merritt also attracts many visitors during the summer months as they can rent sail boats, hike along the banks or enjoy a picnic lunch in the park. Within a kilometer of the park there are a couple of Japanese restaurants or visitors could stop for dinner in The Terrace Room at the Lake Merritt Hotel.