In the heart of California’s Central Valley, thousands of acres of flooded farmlands provide a winter home for tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes that migrate along the Pacific Flyway from Siberia and Alaska. Sandhill Cranes sleep at night in standing shallow water so they can hear approaching predators like coyotes and bobcats. Before sunrise they awaken, their unmistakable vocalizations audible for miles. Then they fly off in small groups, heading for nearby fields to forage all day, and return at sunset en masse. Their exit and re-entrance are both incredible spectacles, often accentuated visually by dramatic sunrises, sunsets and wisps of tule fog.

Sandy Zelasko will guide you into picturesque Badlands National Park and its surrounding attractions in South Dakota. Badlands National Park is known for distinctive landscapes, native mixed grass prairies, protected fossils, and breathtaking skyscapes. We’ll start our days in the field at dawn to take advantage of early morning light and active wildlife, and likewise, end each day’s activities at sunset to capture vibrant sunsets while immersed in the park’s geographic features.