Date: 3/10/25 11:58 am From: flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Crane migration
Rita, NEBirders, and fellow Craniacs, The advice given in previous replies is excellent and viewing cranes in a blind is a truly unforgettable experience. But for anyone just winging it without a blind reservation, here's a crane viewing primer we keep on hand to share with friends wanting to experience the cranes for the first time:
Cranes can be found within 5 miles of the Platte River on both north and south sides anywhere between Grand Island and Kearney. If you have binoculars and/or scope you'll want to bring them. And even if you don't, the ginormous flocks and audio experience can be worth the trip. Many Nebraskans are totally unaware our world-class spectacle regularly draws renowned visitors like Jane Goodall as well as people from dozens of other countries that travel across the globe to witness it. The Platte River and adjacent area is an ancient vital reserve-building rest stop that has been used annually by the Sandhill Cranes during their spring migration since the end of the last ice age 10,000+ years ago. The cranes usually spend 3-5 weeks fattening up in Nebraska in the fields and wetlands along their beloved Platte River before they proceed to their still-wintery breeding grounds in the Alaska region. Humans have screwed up many of the river wetlands and flooded prairies used for foraging, but fortunately the cranes have been able to adapt and replace that food source with waste corn in nearby ag. fields. Now and then a rare endangered Whooping Crane migrates with a flock of Sandhill Cranes, so if you happen to see an inordinate number of cars pulled over at the edge of the road, scan for a bigger all white crane to see if that's why people have pulled over.
Our annual pilgrimage consists of 3 main components:
#1) Depart Lincoln early to mid-afternoon and spend a couple hours driving rural gravel roads within 5 miles of the Platte River to watch flocks as they forage in the fields. If you get a nice view of a flock in good light, you can pull off to the side of gravel roads that aren't busy for viewing. The locals are tolerant if you're not blocking the road and creating a hazard. Viewing flocks in fields is a good opportunity to observe their social behavior. Cranes mate for life and pairs generally have 1 youngster with them who looks similar to adults by this time so you can't easily tell them apart visually, but you can hear the juveniles' voices when they call because they're higher-pitched than the adults (like a piccolo as compared with a flute). The massive flocks that feed and loaf during the day contain those family groups of 3 and also groups of unpaired "teenager" bachelors and bachelorettes some of whom are old enough to start looking for mates. So there can be courting and competition amongst the high-strung singles squaring off and wanting to impress each other and that's when you can see "dancing" (jumping with a showy wing flap while big sharp toenails rake the air), "bowing" to show off their red foreheads, and "stick-tossing" which in Nebraska is more like "stalk-tossing". As sunset draws near, cranes are antsy to head to the river and displays like "dancing" sometimes set off chain reactions with a row of cranes popping up and down like popcorn.
#2) About an hour or so before nightfall, cranes start to fill the sky and head towards the river in endless waves from every direction. This is our favorite part of the spectacle. We position ourselves south of the river along Platte River Dr. a couple miles west of Alda Rd. and watch them fly overhead. It really gives one a 3D sense of the numbers that are present because so many are visible in the sky at the same time. Peak numbers can reach 500,000 and the latter half of March is generally primetime.
#3) As the light starts to fade (if you're feeling ambitious and it isn't too cold) you may want to finish the day by watching them gather on the Platte River, their ancestral roost site, and the sole reason they spend so much time in Nebraska. There's 3 public parking lots north of the river on the west side of Alda Rd. If water levels are low enough to allow roosting at that site, the viewing deck on the west side of the road is great but in some years the viewing from down by the river on the east side of the bridge can be even more spectacular. The cacophonous sound as they amass on the river is unparalleled. (Crane viewing parking lots have been placed at several of the highway bridges that cross the river so there's parking at not only the Alda overpass but also the Gibbon overpass etc.)
The temperature can drop at sunset so bring warm clothes if you plan to enjoy the amazing crane slumber party on the river.
Have Fun!Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln On Monday, March 10, 2025, 12:31:04 PM CDT, Benjamin Gray via groups.io <benjamincgray...> wrote:
We like the bridge spanning the Platte from Fort Kearney SP to the Bassway Strip WMA. There's also camping in the park within walking distance of the bridge, which is super convenient.
Just driving around, they'll see tons of cranes, even from the interstate. But for safe daytime viewing, driving past farm fields near the river is the best.
The Audubon Society's Rowe Sanctuary also has a great visitor center.
Also, both Crane Trust and the Rowe Sanctuary offer guided tours to their private viewing blinds. It's $50-60 for the (approximately) 3 hour tour; more for the longer or more involved ones. You can even rent a private blind overnight if you're up for it- but it can get cold!
I recommend the evening tour, because my favorite part is watching the birds come in to land on the river before roosting at night. They sleep standing in the shallow water of the River. (Or if they arrive early before the thaw, they stand on the ice!)
Benjamin GrayOmaha, NE
On Mon, Mar 10, 2025 at 7:41 AM Robert Mills via groups.io <millsb...> wrote:
Alda br is good now
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of rjensen via groups.io <rjensen...>
Sent: Sunday, March 9, 2025 9:59:22 PM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Crane migration
My sister-in-law and friend are coming from central IA tomorrow to do
some crane viewing for a few days. They plan on going to Grand Island,
and possibly Kearney as well. I'd like to share with them some locations
that are seeing lots of crane activity right now. Does anyone have
specific sites that are especially active? It's been a few years since
I've been there and can't remember the name of one of the bridges near
Wood River (I believe) that was a really good viewing spot.
Thanks so much in advance!
