Shipley Nature Center
The Shipley Nature Center, located in Huntington Beach, is a wonderful place to get to know Orange County’s “natural” side. Located in Huntington Beach Central Park, this 18-acre coastal wilderness and wildlife refuge is filled with lovely native foliage. The Shipley Nature Center also hosts docent-led walking tours, parent-child events, and much more.
There are eight habitats to explore, including the oak woodlands, the meadow habitat, the redwood grove, coastal sage scrub habitat, blackbird pond, riparian woodland habitat, the torrey pine grove, and the southern oak woodland habitat.
Named after former Huntington Beach Mayor, Donald D. Shipley, the nature center was opened in 1974. Dr. Shipley’s vision was to have a place which reflected what California was 100 years ago. The restoration process created several early California habitats. It was done so that children would be able to see what Huntington Beach may have been like before intense development began, wiping out native habitats.
Coyotes can be found at Shipley and usually they are very shy of humans. But we have noticed what might be an increase in their presence. Normally they do not harm humans as their preferred food source are small rodents and we have a plentiful food source at Shipley. We do tell our visitors that there are coyotes at Shipley. Visitors should stay on trails and make sure their small children are with them. I think that the information put out by the City of Huntington Beach should provide good information and remember they are not just at Shipley and Central Park they are seen frequently in neighborhoods.