Subject: Sacramento NWR
Date: Oct 31 10:43:27 1997
From: B&P Bell - bellasoc at mail.isomedia.com


Hi Tweets -

As a former resident of the Sacramento area I can reaffirm the
information regarding the NWRs in the Sacramento Valley. Grey Lodge SWA
in particular can hold spectacular numbers of Snow Geese - it is not
unusual to see from 50,000 up birds (truly "Goose Music"). Further south
there is the new Sacramento Valley NWR (southwest of Elk Grove), but it
is just in formation.

Probably of more interest is what is known as the Cosumnes River
preserve - a cooperative effort of Ducks Unlimited, the Nature
Conservancy, the Cal Dept. of Water Resources, Cal Fish & Game, U.S.
Fish & Wildlife, and BLM. The Cosumnes is the last free running river in
that part of the Sacramento Valley, and approximately 12,000 plus acres
have been acquired and preserved for wildlife. This includes a
significant area of riparian oak woodland. Habitat restoration has been
underway for about six years now and has been successful. The numbers of
species (and total numbers) seen in the area, both waterfowl,
shorebirds, and passerines are some of the best in central California.
The preserve is located just east of I-5 off the Twin Cities exit and
then south (right) on Franklin Blvd (B3 on page 96 of Northern
California DeLorme). This area also usually has good populations of
wintering Sandhill Cranes (both greater and lesser) as does the area
just to the south. Just to the south along Franklin Blvd. is the
Woodbridge Rd. (C3, p96) area reserve for Sandhill Cranes (operated by
Cal. Fish & Game). It is not unusual to see(and hear!) up to several
thousand cranes coming in to roost at night.

The Sacramento Valley is a great winter birding area for raptors,
waterfowl, shorebirds, waders, and wintering passerines. The only known
group of overwintering Swainson's Hawks is located not far south in the
Sacramento/San Joaquine Delta near Stockton.

Good birding

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com