Last weekend, in an impromptu moment, I decided to go to Nebraska to see the Sandhill Crane migration. It was awesome! Every year, for perhaps thousands of years, hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes stop for a few weeks during their spring migration along a stretch of the Platte River around Grand Island and Kearney, Nebraska. They roost on the sand bars of the river at night, fly out to the corn fields to feed during the day and return to the river in the evening. It is quite a spectacle at sunrise and sunset to see and hear the thousands of birds. There were several places along the river to stop and watch the birds, but the better viewing and photography opportunities were in the group blinds that were reserved through the Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center near Alda, NE; or the Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon, NE. There are probably other viewing blinds as well. I was taking pictures on a public platform near the Rowe Sanctuary Friday evening, but the birds coming in to land made a sharp turn away as soon as they saw people. There were still tens of thousands within viewing distance, but not real close.
Sandhill Cranes in the Platte River near Alda, NE
In the morning I was in a group blind with about 12 other photographers. We went out before sunrise and took pictures as the sun came up and the birds gradually flew off in small groups to go out and feed. It was here that we also saw one Whooping Crane, way across the river. They stand over five feet tall and have a seven foot wingspan (see the photo below). I have heard that there are less than 500 wild birds in North America. During the day I drove the backroads looking for the cranes in the fields but they stayed a healthy distance from the road making it difficult to take pictures. Since the Sandhill Cranes are hunted in nearly every state but Nebraska they know to stay away from people. Saturday night I was in another group blind with an opportunity to take sunset photos as the birds flew in to roost by the tens of thousands. The weather was beautiful and it was a great photo weekend. I'm anxious to go back again. [More Sandhill Crane Photos here...]
One lone Whooping Crane among the Sandhill Cranes in the Platte River south of Alda, NE
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