As I stepped out of the car, the cold wind enveloped me like an icy blanket. I had arrived at the California Delta, and the surrounding fields were bordered with stands of trees that glowed red in the afternoon light. The colors were stunning, but I had come for something else… Sandhill Cranes.

I began scanning the open fields for signs of life. Looking east, towards a branch of the Mokelumne River, I immediately noticed small groups of cranes foraging for seeds and roots among the broken stalks of corn. A thrill of excitement rushed through me. Camera at the ready, I began to move closer.

The migration season was coming to a close. Between the months of August and December, Sandhill Cranes arrive in California’s Central Valley in great numbers. They are among the largest birds to navigate the Pacific Flyway, and they travel in flocks. The resulting spectacle is breathtaking. The cranes I observed were fleeing the cold winter of the north to make their temporary home in the fields and wetlands that surround two of California’s largest rivers.

The Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers converge at the California Delta and from there they flow into the Bay. The resulting wetlands are a haven for migratory birds. Unfortunately, Sandhill Crane populations in California face habitat loss due to agricultural expansion. Around 70% of their winter habitat is located on private land, so much of their fate lies in the hands of farmers. However, since the mid 1900’s, their populations have been steadily increasing. This is thanks in part to areas like Staten Island, which the Nature Conservancy acquired in 2001.

The afternoon I visited the wetlands was a noisy one. An orchestra of avian voices swelled over me again and again as I watched from the road. The cacophony was pierced many times by the loud, guttural calls of the cranes. A closer look through my lens revealed prehistorically sharp beaks and intelligent, tangerine colored eyes. 

Upon further investigation, I discovered that Sandhill Cranes are indeed prehistoric. The oldest known fossils date to around 2.5 million years ago. Yet there they were, right in front of me. I watched with wonder as they fed peacefully in the fields just as they had done for millions of years.

As the light of golden hour began to bathe the fields in warmth, groups of cranes began to take flight. They were traveling to the river where they would spend the night.

The cranes flew with elegant grace. Their outstretched necks reached for freedom with every beat of their powerful wings. Silhouetted against the colors of the sky, they were a magnificent sight.

Once it became too dark to photograph, I stopped to take in the wonder of what I had just witnessed. Sandhill Cranes spend the winter a mere two hours from the bustling Bay Area cities, yet how many locals have been lucky enough to encounter them? When the season is right, take a journey east to see these magnificent birds for yourself!