Birding in Lodi: Not Just Sandhill Cranes
By Patrick Meeker
Those of us in the San Francisco Bay Area and its surrounding areas are blessed with a rich tapestry of bird life. But there are times we want to explore further than our regular patch in Tilden Park or Fort Mason, and one prime destination is Lodi, in San Joaquin County.
This year, our Birdathon auction is offering three separate prizes that can make a trip to the Lodi area even more memorable—a luxurious gourmet dinner there, a two-night stay convenient to downtown Lodi, and a sunset tailgate party while viewing Sandhill Cranes.
But of course, as we know, it’s all about the birds.
The annual Sandhill Crane migration is undoubtedly the main attraction of Lodi’s birding scene, drawing thousands of observers from far and wide. These majestic birds typically arrive in late fall and spend the winter feasting on cultivated grains and small larval insects among the shallow marshes before departing for their breeding grounds in Northern Canada. Watching them fly in by the thousands at sunset is a truly awe-inspiring experience.

Other seasonal visitors include Tundra Swans, Snow Geese, and other waterfowl, making fall and winter the prime birding seasons. But Lodi also offers year-round species such as Wood Duck and Acorn Woodpecker. According to the latest eBird data, up to 350 different species have been documented in the Lodi area.
This wealth of species is largely due to Lodi’s variety of landscapes, including riparian forests, wetlands, and vineyards, which act as a magnet for both resident and migratory species, allowing visitors to see a wide array of birds in a relatively compact area.
Birders and conservationists have contributed to Lodi’s status as a birding hotspot, with the Nature Conservancy helping protect and restore habitat and local birders organizing the well-known Sandhill Crane Festival each year in November. Here are some of the area’s birding highlights:
Staten Island
Situated between the North and South Mokelumne River, this island is teeming with cranes, ibises, egrets, and Northern Shovelers. The Nature Conservancy manages this agricultural land primarily during the winter for these birds. The island’s harvested cornfields provide an abundant food source for the cranes.
Cosumnes River Preserve
The Cosumnes River Preserve offers an array of habitats from floodplain wetlands to oak forests. It’s a vital conservation area that provides shelter for thousands of migratory birds and a diverse ecosystem.…