The Cosumnes River Preserve protects one of California’s last remaining undammed rivers and its associated ecosystems: wetlands, riparian oak forest, grasslands, and sloughs. It is home to more than 250 species of birds, over 40 fish species and more than 230 plant species. We will walk nature trails observing woodland and riparian birds and boardwalks searching for close-up views of waterfowl. Next on the trip we will head over to the Woodbridge Ecological Preserve. This preserve provides California’s largest area of freshwater marsh wintering habitat. Featured here are the majestic sandhill crane, along with geese, swans and many other waterbirds. The trip will conclude at the Nature Conservancy’s Staten Island. Staten Island has been a wintering destination for sandhill cranes moving along the Pacific Flyway for more than 40 years. Situated in the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Staten Island’s 9,200 acres are located between the North and South Forks of the Mokelumne River, with thousands of acres of crops in production annually, that provide both foraging and roosting habitat for these beautiful cranes.
