Events

Bring your binoculars and enjoy a leisurely walk on flat ground through the old growth riparian habitat at Lodi Lake Nature Trail with a local birding expert.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Gary Ivey about Sandhill Cranes, you won’t want to miss this tour. Join Gary on a bus ride around the delta to see cranes feeding in the fields.and watch them during the evening fly-in.

If you have never had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Gary Ivey about Sandhill Cranes, you won’t want to miss this tour. Join Gary on a bus ride around the delta to see cranes feeding in the fields.and watch them during the evening fly-in.

This introduction to photographing wild birds will focus on Sandhill Cranes.  Topics include basics of birding, ethical considerations, predicting bird behavior, and locations for observing and photographing.  Jennifer and Walt will cover basic cameras, lenses, and other accessories.  Basic camera settings, best times of day, dealing with wind and weather conditions will be discussed.  Photographing birds in flight and birds that are stationary, as well as photographing birds in your backyard. 

Learn origami crane folding from our volunteer “experts”.  This activity is FREE … and everyone is welcomed to give it a try.  Stop by to learn more about the cultural significance of origami cranes and the history of this unique Japanese art form. 

Stop by for hands on exploration that gives people of all ages the opportunity to expand their knowledge … and have fun doing it. San Joaquin Audubon Society shares a collection of artifacts and equipment to offer a closer look, and a better understanding, of cranes and their adaptations.

Learn more about the California version of a great migration and the habitats that support this awesome, and very reliable, natural phenomenon.

Join Native Bird Connections for an intimate look at the behaviors, life experiences, and personal stories of several birds of prey. See hawks and owls up close and learn their unique stories. This presentation repeats on Saturday at 1:40 PM.

In the Delta, water interacts with land and forms soil in a complex process. Human use of water and land contains a nest of complex pressures. These connections and complexities play out daily.  This talk will explore many of these connections and complexities with a focus on how they relate to the birds that make the Delta their home.

Get inspired and join artists from the Lodi Community Art Center to create your own mini painting on paper or canvas to take home.  Supplies and encouragement provided, open to all ages. Also on Saturday from noon to 3 PM.

Bring your questions for Dr. Jay Lund and Dr. Greg Golet who will present a broad look at the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta - winter home for thousands of Pacific Flyway Sandhill Cranes.  They will discuss the impact of a changing climate on this remarkable region, followed by audience questions.

Join master carvers from the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association to learn how to carve a bird from wood. All the necessary materials, including a study guide and carving knives, will be provided.

Join Native Bird Connections for an intimate look at the behaviors, life experiences, and personal stories of several birds of prey. See hawks and owls up close and learn their unique stories. This presentation is also at 10 AM on Saturday.

Bats play an essential role in the environment and are often misunderstood.  Join Corky Quirk with NorCal Bats to learn more about these winged wonders: how they fly, how they catch insects and how they use sonar.  As part of the program, you will also meet several live bats, all native species. 

If you have never had the opportunity to visit with Dr. Gary Ivey about Sandhill Cranes, you won’t want to miss this tour. Join Gary on a bus ride around the delta to see cranes feeding in the fields.and watch them during the evening fly-in.

This tour has all the excitement of the other fly-in tours in the area, but visitors will be able to view the Sandhill Cranes (and other birds) from the comfort of a viewing shelter. Seating is provided and maps, charts, and pictorials are on display. Also, visitors will be treated to a presentation by Department of Fish and Wildlife docents.

The Woodbridge Ecological Reserve is one of the few locations where Sandhill Cranes consistently roost in the Delta. At dusk, in large groups that can number from several hundred to several thousand, the cranes converge on the South Unit’s flooded fields for the night. CDFW Docents will give a presentation on the cranes in a private viewing area. The cranes determine end times for evening tours.