Only an hour north of Malibu, Ormond Beach in South Oxnard, Ventura County, is home to 10 endangered or special status species. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, they include federally listed endangered species: the western snowy plover, the California least tern, the California brown pelican, the tidewater goby (a fish) and the salt marsh birds beak (a plant). Additional state-listed endangered species are the Belding's savannah sparrow and the peregrin falcon. And state species of special concern also include the horned lark, white tailed kite and coast horned lizard.

As a recreational site, Ormond Beach is uncrowded with great views of the nearby Channel Islands. As an ecosystem, Ormond Beach is not pristine, but it is intact and ecologically viable.

More than 300 different bird species have been sighted at Ormond Beach. Most are visitors, because it is conveniently located on the Pacific Flyway, the north-south path of many migrating birds. Long-time residents report that 40 to 50 years ago, flocks numbering in the thousands would land at Ormond. Now the flocks are smaller, but they still come.