Nebraskaland

48 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2015 E very March and April, an estimated 70,000 visitors travel to the Central Platte River Valley of Nebraska to view the sandhill crane migration. During their visit, bird watchers, nature lovers and other tourists have the chance to view the feeding and courtship rituals of three different species (lesser, greater and common) of more than half a million sandhill cranes. Lucky crane watchers might even get a glimpse of one of the endangered whooping cranes along with large numbers of waterfowl during what is considered one of nature's greatest wonders. The major migration of cranes to the Platte River Valley occurs in what could be explained as an hourglass shape when charted on a U.S. map. The narrow stretch of the Platte River and surrounding wetlands and cornfields provide a crucial staging area where birds rest and put on body fat for the remainder of their journey to breeding grounds that range from northern North America to Canada, Alaska and northeastern Siberia. When the cranes visit this small piece of the Platte, visitors flock to Grand Island and Kearney, filling educational centers, hotels, and restaurants. These and other attractions become home bases for first- and long- time visitors interested in witnessing this once-in-a-lifetime phenomena every single year. Here's your start to this year's migration. The Audubon Rowe Sanctuary The Audubon Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon includes nearly 1,900 acres of land and is dedicated to the conservation of sandhill cranes, whooping cranes and other migratory birds along with habitat utilized along the Platte River. Education services are provided year-round to the public at Rowe's Iain Nicolson Audubon Center, which includes classrooms, educational displays, a viewing area along the river and reservable viewing blinds. Rowe Sanctuary is also a popular meeting place for guided crane tours. According to Rowe director Bill Taddicken, approximately 17,000 people visited the center last year during the six-week crane season, including guests from 52 different counties and all 50 states. At Rowe.audubon.org, learn how to plan your trip and view links to local motels, visitor bureaus and other attractions in the area. Fort Kearny State Historical Park (SHP) and State Recreation Area (SRA) The visitor center at Fort Kearny State Historical Park starts crane watchers off with information about cranes and their migration as well as crane viewing etiquette, a slide presentation and maps for self-guided tours. Opening March 6 to April 6 just for the crane season, the visitor center will see an estimated 3,000 people. Outside the crane season, the visitor center at the state historical park is open on weekends after May 1, and is open every day after Memorial Day through Labor Day. Some visitors make their way to Fort Kearny State Recreation Area and camp for a couple of days, while others simply hike the trail to the old railroad bridge for crane viewing. and your guide to their migration Guided trips at Rowe Sanctuary will be conducted from March 6 to April 11. Reservations are required to use the blinds that house about 32 people at a time for great panoramic views and photos of cranes and other birds on the river. By Julie Geiser PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER

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