The area around Big Break Regional Shoreline, just east of Antioch on the San Joaquin River, looks to have been a very busy place in the past — rusted machine parts and abandoned boats lie scattered about, faint reminders of days gone by. Nowadays, this part of the shore has been dedicated to restoration and preservation of habitat that welcomes migrating and resident birds as well as other creatures. The city of Antioch, founded in 1850 and originally called Smith’s Landing, sits at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.