Cosumnes River and Isenberg Crane Preserves
Directions to the Cosumnes River Preserve:
The Cosumnes River Preserve is located off I-5 between
Sacramento and Stockton. Take I-5 to the Twin Cities Road exit
(marked with a binoculars sign for wildlife viewing) about
midway between Stockton and Sacramento. Take Twin Cities
Road exit and go east for exactly one mile, to the first stop sign.
Turn right at the first stop sign, onto Franklin Boulevard, for 1.7
miles. The Visitor Center is located on the left side of Franklin
Boulevard. Continue down Franklin Boulevard and park in the
parking lot just past the Visitor Center.
More information at http://www.cosumnes.org/—WS
Directions to the Isenberg Crane Preserve:
Allow 1-1/2 hours driving time from Castro Valley. From
Stockton, go north on I-5 and exit turning right onto Turner Road,
then an immediate left onto Thornton Road. Travel north and turn
left on to Woodbridge Road (you will cross under I-5 so you are
headed west.) Continue 2-1/2 miles to a pullout on the left side of
the road just past a grove. From Sacramento, take I-5 to Peltier
Road (or from Stockton, take Turner Road) and go east slightly to
Thornton Road. Take Thornton Road (south 2 miles from Peltier
or north 1 mile from Turner) to Woodbridge Road, turn west, and
continue 2-1/2 miles to a pullout on the left side of the road just
past a grove. This is our meeting area. We request that you stay
until dark as headlights can disturb landing cranes. Please keep
pets in your vehicle. Cranes are very sensitive to sounds, so please
keep voices low and car doors quiet.
For millions of years the majestic and ancient cranes have
played their part in nature’s intricate web. Sandhill cranes winter
here in the Central Valley each year. Some 15 crane species live in
the world today, two of which live in North America. Of the 15
species, 12 are endangered or threatened by extinction.
The Greater Sandhill cranes that winter here stand five feet tall
and have wing spans of seven feet. These giant birds typically live
15 to 20 years in the wild, some over 40 years. They live their
entire life in and near wetlands, migrating to warmer clients for
the winter and returning to their nesting area each spring in
northeastern California and southern Oregon. Each winter they
return to feed, socialize and roost together. It is the steady loss of
wetlands that adversely affect crane survival all over the world.
See www.savingcranes.org or www.operationmigration.org for
more information about Sandhill Cranes. —WS
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Did you miss the Sanhill Crane Festival?
Take the California Fish & Game Dept. tour:
Sandhill Crane Tours
Information on viewing Sandhill Cranes from October through February
Public tours are held at the Isenberg Reserve on 1st Saturday, 2nd Saturday, 2nd Thursday, and Every Sunday.
Reservations for the Sandhill Crane Tour
are required. The tour cost is $9 per person. Join
the California Fish and Game Dept. for a tour of the normally
closed Isenberg Crane Preserve near Lodi, California. Their tour
leaders will be docents trained in crane ecology, the area’s natural
history, and the Preserve’s habitat management.
As the crane tour involves very little walking, you may want
to bring a lawn chair as well as dress warmly as it can be damp
and chilly. Tours are held rain or shine and usually last for
2 hours. Bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope if you have
them; however, it’s easy to enjoy the cranes with unaided eyes and
ears. You may also want to bring a snack. A portable toilet will be
available at our Isenberg site.
Our tour will conclude with the anticipated fly-in of cranes
around sunset when we’ll view from inside a shelter. Cranes will
be our focus; however, we’ll scout for other birds as well.
We’ll see areas of wetlands and flooded fields that host large
numbers of waterfowl and cranes. We saw American White
Pelicans and Tundra Swans on our last trip. This is the famous
spot where the Demoiselle Crane was discovered in 2001.
For more information on viewing Sandhill Cranes please call:
Online information: California Department of Fish & Game
1701 N. Nimbus Road
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
916.358.2869 or
916.358.2353
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Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary
Bobelaine Audubon Sanctuary is owned by the National
Audubon Society and managed by the Sacramento Audubon
Society. It was donated to National Audubon in 1975 for use as a
sanctuary. The name was derived from the names of the donors,
Bob & Elaine Crandall. Bobelaine is a rare remnant of the
riparian forests that once extended two to five miles on either side
of the rivers in the Great Central Valley of California. The
sanctuary is registered as a “State Ecological Reserve”, is protected
by the State Department of Fish & Game and the National
Audubon Society, and is listed as part of an “Important Bird Area”
by the National Audubon Society.
Join us for a spring day stroll through this very special place.
This is a good time for spring arrivals, including warblers, orioles,
grosbeaks, as well as resident woodpeckers and other passerines.
Many species should be in the midst of nesting. Bring liquids and
a lunch and be prepared to walk. Bobelaine is not wheelchair
accessible yet.
Directions:
From the Bay area, proceed to the intersection of I-5/SR99
and I-80 in Sacramento, then take I-5/SR-99 north exiting at SR-
99/70. Stay on 99 when it separates from 70, and cross the Feather
River bridge. About 2 miles north of the bridge, turn right at
Laurel Avenue, the second signed street; continue till you reach an
“End” sign where the road turns to dirt and gravel and is on
private land. We ask that you slow to five miles per hour on the
gravel to keep the dust down. Watch for the “Bobelaine Audubon
Sanctuary” sign, parking lot, kiosk and metal barn. There is a
large color map in the kiosk showing the trails and the three
entrances to the sanctuary. Map handouts should be available in
the mail box adjacent to the kiosk. If the gate happens to be open
DO NOT DRIVE UP THE LEVEE! Please park in the parking
area. There is no charge to bird the sanctuary at this time. Driving
time is estimated at 2½ hours. Those interested in carpooling,
contact Rich Cimino, 925.462.6418 or rscimino@earthlink.net.
June 28-29, Sat.-Sun., Yuba Pass and Sierra Valley, Leaders:
Phil and Pat Gordon, 510.538.3550 or
pagpeg@aol.com, |
Yuba Pass, Sierra and Plumas Counties
Meet both days at the Yuba Pass Campground, at the top of
Yuba Pass - 8 a. m. on Saturday, 7 a. m. on Sunday.
Depending upon snow conditions, we hope for a short walk to
Frazier Falls, which should be spectacular this year. The trail is
usually full of wildflowers. We will also stop at several lakes in
the basin. Yuba Pass Summit, on SR-49, is home to the Blackbacked
Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Williamson’s
and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Cassin’s Finches, Evening Grosbeak,
flycatchers of several species, and a variety of warblers.
We will spend Sunday morning looking for the Gray Flycatcher,
singing Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrows, then continue on to
Sierra Valley and Loyalton. Sierra Valley is one of the largest
freshwater marshes in California. It is home and nesting habitat
for Sandhill Cranes, White-faced Ibis, and Yellow-headed
Blackbirds. It is surrounded by Great Basin Sagebrush Desert, so
additional species to be seen include Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s
Sparrow, Horned Larks, and resident raptors.
Lodging can be found in Portola (Sleepy Pines -
916.832.4291), Blairsden (River Pines - 916.836.2552), Sierraville
and Sierra City. Campgrounds are located at Yuba Pass,
along SR-49 and in the Gold Lakes Basin. The Plumas-Eureka
State Park should be available, although more distant. At this
writing, it hasn’t been closed by the Governor’s plan. We plan to
camp at the Pass, so join us for a potluck dinner at the campsite
Saturday night. We may even have potluck music!
PAGPEG Call Leaders Phil and Pat Gordon for additional
information: 510.538.3550, or PAGPEG@aol.com |