Bird Watchers Fear Delta Tunnel Project Could Frighten Sandhill Cranes
LODI (CBS13) — Bird watchers are flocking to see the sandhill crane descend into the Delta wetlands, but some fear that upcoming construction could drive the birds away.
The breathtaking sight of droves of cranes draws thousands to Staten Island Preserve for the annual Sandhill Crane Festival.
Activists are concerned this could be a thing of the past if a proposed Delta water tunnel project happens.
"We are very concerned about this proposal, and its potential negative impact," said Mike Savino with Save Our Sandhill Cranes.
Despite the state's plan to keep the impact on the habitat to a minimum, longtime homeowners like Sally Shanks fear no one is watching out for the beloved birds.
"The Department of Water Resources holds the conservation easement on the island that is supposed to protect the crane, so it's a little like the fox in the hen house for me," Shanks said. "Who's going to watch to make sure they don't hurt the birds?"
Bird watchers flock to the area to tour the delta and witness sandhill cranes darken the sky, but for how long?
"They are going to disturb and haze them," Savino said. "I fear for the next 10 years, and I don't know that the birds will come back."
