Doesn’t the name Cranes Peak conjure images of elegant birds soaring overhead? While the name might suggest a haven for cranes, the reality is a bit more nuanced. Let’s explore the connection between this San Diego peak and these magnificent birds.
Cranes Peak. It is named with an association to the Sandhill Crane. At the beginning of the 20th century, Southern California saw Sandhill Cranes migrating overhead. They would stop occasionally. More often than not, they chose the Los Angeles basin over San Diego County.
But times have changed. These flocks are now a thing of the past. Today, these cranes spend their winters at only three spots in the region. These are the Carrizo Plain, the Imperial Valley, and the Palo Verde Valley by the Colorado River.
Since 1920, San Diego County has only had three specific records of these wild cranes.
Migration patterns offer some clues. One sighting involved a fall migrant. This Sandhill Crane was seen flying over south San Diego Bay. It followed the Silver Strand on December 4, 1999. The other two sightings were of spring migrants. One was in the east basin of San Elijo Lagoon on April 26, 1998. The other was near Bonsall in the San Luis Rey River valley on February 28, 2000. Before these, seven cranes were seen at Cuyamaca Lake between September 24 and 30, 1977.
A peculiar incident occurred. A tame Sandhill Crane turned up near Telegraph Canyon and Otay Lakes roads. This crane even had a radio transmitter. It had been part of an experimental reintroduction program in northeastern Arizona.
Early naturalists didn’t give us much info about Sandhill Cranes here. Emerson saw big flocks flying over Volcan Mountain in March 1884. Grinnell et al. noted flocks passing over Campo. They flew southeast toward the Gulf of California.
Stephens wrote that cranes migrate in flocks during fall and spring. Sometimes, they don’t even stop in the county. They might show up in winter on grass and grain fields. Hunting and habitat changes hit the species hard. Extensive grasslands and grain fields are mostly gone. The damming of the Colorado River dried up the crane’s main winter home.
Since the 1990s, more Sandhill Cranes have wintered in the Imperial Valley. This might explain the San Diego County sightings in 1999 and 2000. Maybe we’ll see them more often in the future. But their future here depends on how we manage water and land for agriculture.
No Sandhill Crane specimen has been taken in San Diego County. So, we don’t know which subspecies occurs here. The Lesser Sandhill Crane is common in the Imperial Valley. But the Greater Sandhill Crane has also been spotted and collected there.
So, as you stand on Cranes Peak. Remember that although crane sightings are rare, their presence is part of the region’s history. The name serves as a reminder of the changing landscape. It also highlights the importance of conservation. We need to protect these birds for future generations.