A creek has flowing water which is warmer and slower than a mountain stream. It is usually bordered by woodlands that support birds and other animals.

Muskrats are large, vole-like rodents. They are 1-1/2 to 2 feet long with a tail that is 6 inches to 1 foot long. They eat grass and aquatic animals, such as clams. Muskrats can be found in marshy areas and along streams and lakes. They swim through the water by propelling themselves with their slightly webbed hind feet and by using their rudder-like tail for guidance.

The Black Phoebe is only 7 inches tall with a wingspan of 11 inches. It's a part of the flycatcher family, and eats mainly insects. The Phoebe swoops out from a perch to catch insects and then swoops right back. It is often seen sitting on a low, noticeable perch, flicking its tail up and down.

The Mallard is about 2 feet long with a wingspan of 2-1/2 to 3-1/3 feet. It lives on a diet of plants, insects, mollusks and crustaceans. To find its food it dabbles in water. They tend to live near lakes, ponds, and marshes. It is also the most common duck in the Northern Hemisphere.

The striped skunk is 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 feet long with a tail between 7 inches and 1-1/2 feet long. They can be found in salt marshes, grassy plains, and in our neighborhoods! They eat a wide variety of vegetable matter, insects and grubs, small mammals, eggs of ground-nesting birds and amphibians. They are best known for their defense mechanism—they spray an awful smelling oil, which can be smelled from up to one mile away.

Sweet Fennel grows in the upland areas, above the water. This plant has finely divided, thread-like leaves, which give off a licorice odor. The seeds, roots and stems are edible. Fennel attracts seed-eating birds such as finches, sparrows and, during migration, warblers. Sweet Fennel is not native to California, but its presence benefits many native birds and insects, especially the Anise Swallowtail Butterfly.