isenberg crane reserve

I was on January.2015, encountered an Auburn group that where open to share the ranchers volunteers explanations, but when they moved to another site called "North" to view the Sandhills Cranes they were very assertive of been members and not welcoming me, I was by myself, to go with them. Even nature is manipulated into exclusiveness, memberships, permits and while the cranes where dancing together, we humans are pushing each other for a better place.....a real luck of perspective......seeing few cranes it was very healing into the overall experience.

Watching the flocks of sandhill cranes fly in at dusk is an awesome sight and one that is not to be missed. If you are in Lodi in Nov/Dec, make sure to put this on your list of things to do. Go at dusk, bring a chair and some wine, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Absolutely spectacular!!!! As dawn breaks the birds wake up and start to chortle and then they fly off in waves. At dusk they fly in in waves. Fabulous experience!

Got there early afternoon Oct. 14, and there were a good number of Sandhills Cranes, mallards, etc already on the water. Waited and waited, and just as the sun was going down, the birds came in by the hundreds! One of the most beautiful and spectacular things we have ever witnessed. And they just kept coming and coming. We came back the next day, and I think it was even better. Bring binoculars, cameras.

There is a good flock of Sandhill Cranes that come to the preserve each evening at dusk to roost for the night. It is an amazing sight to see these huge birds coming in for the night.

First of all, I have to premise this review with the fact that I'm in Florida, and I have these cranes in my yard on a daily basis... Having said that, it was still interesting to see that many cranes congregating in one place. I hadn't realized that these beautiful birds migrated as the ones we have don't. This is not a specific place -- you can look on both sides of the road and you'll see the cranes coming and going -- we were there in early October, so they were about 2 weeks into their migration.

I love to go out here in the late autumn afternoon when the birds begin to land. Peaceful, but dramatic. Take insect repellant and binoculars, and your camera!

I grew up hunting this area. Now it's a reserve. It was nice to see all the wildlife enjoying a wonderful piece of California. I know it says Crane Reserve but you will find almost every bird you can think of here. Enjoy!

Great place to watch Sandhill cranes when they come to winter. Watch them at sunset as they come in from all around. Your experience will differ with each visit. Sometimes I have gone and there were just half a dozen cranes. At other times there were score and scores, some flying in right overhead.

Got some terrific pics of sandhill cranes as we are right in the flyway. Best at sunset as they all make this flapping noise and take off together. Pretty breathtaking when the season is right

The Isenberg Crane Reserve is a wonderful place to head to enjoy some time communing with nature and it’s free. We head out there every year between Nov and Jan (if we are lucky we’ll head out several times during the season) to see what we can see. Although we don’t always see the cranes at the reserve, there are always some birds in the reserve to watch and hear (ducks, geese, shore birds, sea gulls, swans, egrets, blue heron, flocks of black birds, raptors, and there are always the ever present coots). They have an elevated area at the reserve from which you can look out onto the reserve. If your goal is to see the sand hill cranes, and they are not at the reserve, don’t despair. You often can see them in the area. As you travel west of I5 along Woodbridge Road, drive slowly and look out in the fields on both sides of the road as you may see them feeding in the fields. But watch out for slower moving or stopped cars as other bird watchers are looking for the cranes too. Bring binoculars for a better view as they are usually a good distance from the road and if you are lucky enough to spot them closer to the road, by the time your car gets to them they will fly or walk further away to create a comfortable distance from your car. It’s tempting to drive out on the private roads to get closer, but resist as this is private property and trespassing is not appreciated by the farmers. If you time your visit around sunset you often will be treated to the crane’s gurgling whistle call as they fly back to the roost for the evening from the day of feeding out in the fields. Although when we go out, our goal is to see the cranes, we are often treated to a wide variety of bird life. We’ve seen raptors perched on top of the telephone poles surveying the fields for a meal or one on the ground enjoying its catch, dark clouds of noisy geese looking for a place to land (it’s really fun to watch them communicate on where the flight will all land), or flooded fields made white with swans. What you’ll see is not always dependable as the birds do what they want and don’t care that people have driven out to see them. But the delta is always relaxing so treat yourself to the laid back time and maybe have dinner at one of those unique eateries while you are out in the delta.

if you have chance, take a docent tour or a tour associated with the Crane Festival Sharing the experience with others and the information from guides only enhances the experience.

At the end of sept each year the sandhill cranes do what is expected, and migrate to their winter home in lodi, ca. They come from alaska, and live in our wetlands until march of the next year. the dept of fish & Wildlife and other nature organizations, and farmers, encourage them by taking care of the habitat. Give them what they want, and they will come. They need rice,marsh land, grains, 2 inches of water to dig for food, bugs, etc. and so they stick around. Come see the sandhill crane festival nov 8,9. 10th 2014. in lodi, ca. www.cranefestival.com

The place to go if you want to see cranes. San Juan Capistrano has their swallows and Lodi has their cranes, who would have thought. Bring comfortable shoes and binoculars. Beautiful birds in flight. Also try to catch the crane festival if you are in the area early November. http://www.crainfestival.com

If you are even slightly interested is viewing the cranes (along with geese, ducks, etc.) this is a must do site! I've not attended the Sandhill Festival, but have been out to this site several times a season, just to experience the cranes. It is truly awsome watching them and hearing them call. If you aren't familiar with these amazing birds, it is truly a most wonderful experience, and one that will surely keep you coming back when they arrive to winter here! You can also walk the road for a couple of miles-great exercise-and view them outside the "viewing area". I would definitely suggest this as a "must do" in the Lodi area. If you don't go with a 'tour' during the festival, there are wonderful signs, describing the wildlife in the area, so you will be easily able to learn about this amazing area. Being a huge migratory area (the entire Delta is fantastic) is a giant plus for living here!