Nebraskaland

March 2021 • Nebraskaland 69 mid- to late March, the string of cranes will extend well to the west of the blind. When the sun rises, you can watch them stretch, preen and dance before they fl y off to feed. Weather makes each day diff erent, too. I've been greeted by cloudless, bluebird days, colorful sunrises and, last spring, two straight mornings of dense fog. I hope to be able to make time to be there during a snowstorm at some point. No matter where you are on the river, changing light and your proximity to cranes is what keeps photographers coming back each year. Each day provides a diff erent photo opportunity. You simply take what you're given and make the most of it. I've captured some great images, but I'm still waiting to capture the perfect one. I can see it in my mind. Which is why I'll be spending a night or two with the cranes again this spring. I hope they'll be closer. N March 2021 • Nebraskaland 69 Crane Viewing Opportunities Overnight blinds are a great way for photographers to experience the sandhill crane migration on the Platte River in Nebraska. And this spring, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, they may be one of the best ways to do so while staying socially distant. With the pandemic still at play, The Crane Trust and The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary will once again keep their visitor centers closed this spring. The Crane Trust has cancelled all offerings, including its group viewing blind tours and photography workshops. While subject to change, Rowe Sanctuary is still planning on offering group viewing blinds tours, but has reduced blind capacity by one-third. It will also offer its overnight photography blinds. That is slightly better than last year, when both cancelled most offerings just as the cranes were arriving. It will be another big loss for these organizations, which rely on income from the crane season to support their mission the rest of the year. Rowe upgraded its four overnight photography blinds in recent years, making them more weather tight and taller than the blinds they had operated for years. Each holds two people. Crane Cabin Retreat has two blinds. One on an island requires an overnight stay. Another on the bank allows visitors the choice of spending the night or leaving after dark. Guided, open air crane tours are another option for socially distanced viewing. The photo blinds are popular and may be in higher demand than normal, so call for reservations if you are interested. They require visitors arrive in the afternoon and do not leave until after the cranes have left the river the following morning. Cold weather camping gear and warm clothing is essential and not provided. Primitive "restrooms" are provided. If you can't make it to the river this spring, The Crane Trust is offering Virtual Crane Tours and Rowe will continue to offer its popular Crane Cam. • Crane Cabin Retreat, Wood River Two overnight photo blinds, open-air crane tours. facebook.com/crane-cabin-retreat 308-383-6913 • The Crane Trust, Alda Group viewing blinds and all-inclusive photo tours and workshops, all cancelled for 2021, will return in 2022. 308-382-1820 cranetrust.org • Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, Gibbon Four overnight photo blinds, group viewing blinds. 308-468-5282 rowe.audubon.org An overnight blind sits on the bank of the Platte River at Rowe Sanctuary.

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