(FOX40.COM) - - Something is taking place around Lake Tahoe that has not been seen considering that the days of the Gold Rush: sandhill crane migration and nesting.

These big and stylish birds are popular for spending their winter season in California's Central Valley, in locations like the Cosumnes River Preserve, before moving north into Canada for their breeding season.

While sandhill crane populations throughout North America are big, it was not too long ago that California's nesting population was near the point of disappearing, according to the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS).

In 1944, the searching of this spectacular bird left an estimated 3 to four nesting pairs in the whole state, according to TINS.

" In 1970, lawmakers in the state took decisive action approving sandhill cranes ‘‘ totally secured' status," TINS writes. "Six years later, nests were recorded in the Sierra Valley, however it was still numerous years before they started to reach the Tahoe region."

Within the last decade, a handful of nesting sets have been found in the Greater Lake Tahoe Basin.

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As of 2023, those numbers swelled following a incredibly wet and snowy winter season, according to TINS.

Bird spotters located Sandhill Crane nests at Pope Marsh, Washoe Meadows State Park, and the Upper Truckee Marsh.

Despite not all of these nests succeeding it foreshadowed an appealing peace of mind of sandhill crane nesting around Lake Tahoe.

TINS said one of the likely causes for these failed nests is human disturbance on land and in the water.

" We think that the Upper Truckee Marsh nest likely failed due to disturbance from leisure paddlers," says TINS co-founder and executive director Will Richardson. "Despite the truth that the California Tahoe Conservancy published clear signage for paddlers to keep away from the active nest."

Other nesting websites, such as those at Washoe Meadows State Park or the Teichert Ponds in Truckee may undergo disturbance from people strolling their dogs off-leash..

As intriguing and exciting as it might be to see these birds and their nests, people ought to keep a healthy distance and mind signage relating to the birds to ensure they continue to call Lake Tahoe home.