Sandhill Crane Roosting Area

Near evening, cranes gather in large numbers to roost in shallow flooded fields. They choose water less than a foot deep, which protects them from predators at night.

If you visit around sunset, you’ll witness one of the most spectacular wildlife events in California: hundreds of cranes gliding in with rattling calls, wings outstretched against the orange sky.

In fall and winter, water is carefully managed to flood shallow wetlands. These mimic the Delta’s natural floodplains and provide prime habitat for dabbling ducks, shorebirds, and cranes.

Keep an eye out for Northern pintails, shovelers, and greater yellowlegs probing the mudflats.