Many species of birds call Lodi home
The Cosumnes River Preserve is for the birds.
More accurately, it’s for those who love watching birds.
The preserve, located off of Interstate 5 north of Lodi and west of Galt, features a myriad of habitats that make a great home for species of birds seen nowhere else in Northern California.
Visitors can use two trails at the preserve to view flying creatures. The Willow Slough Trail, a 3-mile round trip trail that ventures through riparian and valley oak forests and next to the river and several marshes, is open from sunrise until sunset 365 days a year. The Lost Slough Wetlands Boardwalk, a viewing platform above a marsh, opens at 10 a.m. every day and closes at 4 p.m.
The most famous of these exclusive birds is the greater sandhill crane — a bird with a local festival devoted to it annually. The crane is in its greatest numbers between April and October, though there are sightings of the birds throughout the year.
The greater sandhill is one of 15 different subspecies of crane left in the world. Eleven of the subspecies, including the greater sandhill, are endangered or threatened species, according to the California Department of Fish and Game Web site.
Tips for watching, not scaring birds
Here are some handy viewing tips for getting the most out of your birdwatching adventures. The tips are courtesy of the California Department of Fish and Game.
• Limit your movement: For example, watching sandhill cranes will take off at the sight of human movement. Stay low and slow.
• Stay quiet: Sandhill cranes are very skittish and suseptible to flight should noises alert them. Corduroy pants are not recommended.
• Use cover: Blinds such as parked cars or tall vegetation can provide a layer of protection between humans and the birds, who will be more likely to stick around.
• Be patient: Don’t get discouraged if the birds fly away every time you get within a mile of them. Keep trying.
• Be safe: Only park in areas marked as such. Do not cross over fences or into private property. Remain a safe distance from all major bodies of water at all times.
The greater sandhill crane can reach 5-feet-tall and can weigh up to 12 pounds. The birds commonly boast wingspans of seven feet, according to the department.
The subspecies spends its winter months here in the Central Valley. They often migrate to far Northern California and the forests of Oregon and western Canada to breed.
The department also said that the cranes are related to coots, though they look much more similar to herons and egrets. Cranes are often mistaken for the much more common heron. Cranes also do not nest in trees as their back toe is too short to grip branches, according to the department. They instead seek shelter in shallow water and on dams.
The American coot is also a common bird found at the preserve. The 12-inch-long, duck-like waterbird is found in greatest numbers between November and April. The bird can be identified by its short, thick bill and the tendency for its short tail to twitch while walking. The bird has a white bill with a dark red ring near the tip and the bird’s body is gray, according to the United State Geological Survey Web site.
The long-billed dowitcher is also very common between September and April. The shorebird is even smaller than the coot, at a length of 10 inches. The long-billed dowitcher does feature, coincidentally, a long bill. The bird is generally a pale gray with yellow legs.
The tiny yellow-rumped warbler can be seen at the preserve almost exclusively between October and April. The bird, measuring in at about 4.75 inches, is dark gray with a bright yellow tail. The throat of the bird is also yellow.
The European starling, a 6-inch bird with a yellow bill and black back feathers, is home on the preserve throughout the year in marginal abundance, but is in greatest numbers in November. The bird has dark wings with a smattering of white spots. Commonly, the bird is seen is large flocks.
Various species of ducks, including wood ducks, green-winged teals, mallards, northern pintails and cinnamon teals are best seen at the preserve in the winter and early spring months.
The Cosumnes River is the only undammed river on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. It stretches 80 miles, starting in the mountains and cascading down to the San Joaquin Delta. The preserve is based around the area near the river’s confluence with the Mokelumne River and the Delta.
The preserve’s Web site featuring instructions for birders to partake in a driving tour of the area. To contact the Cosumnes River Preserve, call (916) 684-2816 or visit its Web site at www.cosumnes.org.