72 Nebraskaland • April 2026
MIXED BAG
Each April, Prairie Wind Birding
Tours owners, Robyn and Kent Hubbert,
w a tc h o n e m a g i c a l m o m e n t a f te r
another at their prairie-chicken leks,
but too often there are not enough
p e o p l e s h a r i n g t h e s e m o m e n t s
with them.
"The majority of our guests are in
Nebraska to see the crane migration,"
said Robyn. "Prairie-chicken viewing is
outstanding the entire crane migration
season, but it doesn't end with the
crane migration. The viewing is off the
charts in April."
The females spend more time on the
leks, Robyn said, and guests typically
see five to 10 females and between 20
and 25 males. "Our record day we saw
45 birds on the lek at one time."
Visitors are within 10 to 30 yards
from the majority of the birds, with
room for tripods and larger photography
e q u i p m e n t a l o n g s i d e co m fo r ta b l e
office chairs.
A 20-minute drive from Kearney,
Prairie Wind hosts visitors from March
6 to April 11. For more information,
visit prairiewindbirdingtour.com.
Other April Prairie Chicken
Locations to Reserve
Dusty Trails, North Platte: Boasting
"the largest known prairie chicken lek
in Nebraska," Dusty Trails welcomes
visitors to their school bus blind, where
they climb in before sunrise and watch
this spring ritual each morning. Prairie
-chicken viewing begins March 10 and
concludes April 11. dustytrails.biz.
Big Blue Ranch, Burchard: Big Blue
offers greater prairie-chicken tours
April 1-30. A two-person minimum is
required, and lodging is also available.
bigblueranch.com.
P r a i r i e C h i c ke n D a n c e To u r s ,
McCook: Tours include an orientation
and viewing session from March 17 to
April 25. prairiechickendancetours.com.
Call First Locations
NCORPE, North Platte: One viewing
blind opportunity is available March 15
to April 30. Aside from the blind, there
are no other amenities on-site. Call 308-
534-6752 to request a viewing date and
make reservations.
Va l e n t i n e N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e
Refuge, Valentine: Two viewing blinds
are available from April 1 to May 15.
Reservations required. 402-376-3398.
First-Come, First
Served Location
B u r c h a r d L a k e W i l d l i f e
Management Area, Burchard: Two
blinds are available at this southern
Nebraska location. 402-335-2534.
Overall Ethics
Regardless of the viewing location,
visitors are expected to have their cell
phones on silent, wear dark clothes and
have no flash photography or littering.
"At se l f- d i re c te d b l i n d s, " s a i d Jo e l
Jorgensen Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission Nongame Bird Program
Manager, "people need to arrive and get
settled in before first light. Otherwise,
if they show up late, around sunrise,
they're apt to kick birds off the lek."
Prairie-chicken viewing is one of
spring's most sought-after birding
activities, yet most of the interest ends
by the end of April. Have the lek to
yourself for an entire other month of
booming action.
Visitors to Prairie Wind Birding Tours have ample opportunities to bring along
large photography equipment to view prairie-chickens within 10 yards.
ROBYN HUBBERT
PRAIRIE-CHICKEN VIEWING
By Jeff Kurrus
