Platte
River: Sandhill Cranes on the Fly
March
21-25, 2012
Nearly half a million Sandhill Cranes descend upon the broad valley of the Platte River in Nebraska from late February until early April. By March, approximately 80% of the world’s lesser Sandhill Cranes crowd a 150 mile stretch of the river. Here they rest and feed to gain energy for the rest of their migration to northern breeding grounds in Canada, Alaska and Siberia. This is the largest gathering of cranes anywhere in the world. Among them there may be a few of their rare and elegant cousins, the endangered Whooping Crane.
While our journey focuses on experiencing the miracle of Sandhill Crane migration, we take time to enjoy rural Nebraska and other wildlife highlights. Adjacent wetlands of the Rainwater Basin provide stopover refuge for over 10 million ducks and geese, which we find in abundance, bright in breeding plumage. Numbers of Ross’ and Snow Geese can boggle the mind! Don’t miss a chance to witness one of Earth’s greatest wildlife spectacles – in the rural heartland of America. We call this short (4N/5D) version of our popular adventures to the Platte, “Cranes on the Fly”.
ITINERARY
Wed., March 21 Arrival in Lincoln, Nebraska / Drive to Kearney
Arrive in Lincoln, Nebraska by 2:00 PM today. If you need to arrive the day before, we recommend the Cornhusker Hotel, an historic downtown property.
We will have a hour drive out to Kearney and should start seeing our first Snow Geese near York, and the first Sandhill cranes just east of Grand Island. We’ll view birds from the roadsides and settle into our lodgings for the next four nights and enjoy a welcome dinner.
Accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express, Kearney (D)
Thurs., March 22 The Spectacle of “Crane Rise” on the Platte River
In the early morning hours we will experience our first “crane rise” as the “gray sandbar islands” of the Platte River turn into clouds of Sandhill cranes leaving their roost sites. Pre-dawn crane music turns into a crescendo of wake-up calls as the cranes awaken and leave their riverine roost sites. We have reserved blinds at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary 
for prime views of the cranes in areas along the river’s edge. With an expert crane naturalist from Audubon, we will experience the almost deafening chorus and clamor of tens of thousands of cranes taking flight toward the cornfields and prairies where they will forage during the day. After watching this exciting spectacle, we take time to view the displays at the sanctuary and to watch birds at the feeders: Harris, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatches, and possibly Red-bellied Woodpeckers. We also may find Green-winged Teal or some early migrating shorebirds feeding on the river’s mudflats. The remainder of the morning we spend viewing more crane activity in the fields, returning to Kearney for a lunch in town.
In the afternoon we visit historic Fort Kearny to learn more about the pioneers of the Oregon and Mormon Trails. In trees near the fort we look for wintering and resident passerine birds such as Cedar Waxwings, Northern Cardinals, and Bluejays, while keeping an eye out along the river for the majestic Bald Eagles that frequent the Platte. Tonight you can choose to relax and savor the spectacle of this morning, or venture back out at sunset to watch the cranes come into roost from another nearby vantage point. Those going back out can catch something to eat quickly and close to the hotel. Those at leisure can enjoy dinner at a local steakhouse or another restaurant in Kearney. The hotel restaurant will even deliver your meal to go if you wish to tuck in after a full day.
Accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express, Kearney (B,L)
Fri., March 23 Rainwater Basin-Ducks & Geese Galore and an evening of Platte River Cranes
Today we enjoy a more leisurely morning after yesterday’s early awakening. Mid-morning, we drive south to wetlands and ponds of the famous Rainwater Basin, one of the west’s most important areas for migrant waterfowl. Depending upon season and weather conditions, the sheer number of birds in these wetlands often defies the imagination in a wet year. We hope to find over a dozen species of waterfowl, and with luck we’ll find some of the thousands of wintering Snow and Ross’ Geese and perhaps a few White-fronted Geese still lingering there. We will scout a local prairie dog town looking for Burrowing owls. Then as we angle our way back through farm fields and roads, we have a chance to watch crane behavior in detail. Watch for pair bonding activities, dancing, strutting, feeding, resting, and other flock dynamics.
Enjoy lunch at a delightful local café in Minden. Returning to Rowe Sanctuary, we check the feeders to see if we can find Harris’ Sparrows or Cedar Waxwings. We also point our scopes towards the Platte River in search of migrant shorebirds. We return for a break and an early dinner in Kearney, because this evening we have Audubon blinds reserved for our first close up attendance for “crane set.” With a falling curtain of daylight (hopefully spotlighted by a fabulous sunset) we will hear the cranes magical orchestra and see the pageantry of their wings as clouds of birds descend and transform into gray Platte River islands.
Accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express, Kearney (B,L)
Sat., March 24 Platte River / Perhaps a Whooper / Rainwater Basin East
Farm roads parallel the course of the Platte between Kearney and Grand Island and today we drive out to observe cranes in the field. Many of the groups are restless by this time of year and displace their energies with dancing, calling and other displays, or rising and riding thermal updrafts. Many years, a Whooping Crane or a Whooping Crane family will have arrived by now and we network with colleagues and other observers to try for a sighting. Enjoy coffee and a break at the Nebraska Nature and Visitor Center. Harris Sparrows, Black-billed Magpies, Eastern Phoebes and Eastern Bluebirds are some of the birds we may find in vicinity of the nature center.
In the afternoon we can check wetlands in the eastern section of the Rainwater Basin or depending on the interests of the group, perhaps visit the Arch Museum or the local Museum of Nebraska Art. We then celebrate our great week with cranes at a favorite local restaurant located in a historic farmhouse inn.
epicureanbirder.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/best-restaurants-while-birding-kearney-minden-nebraska
Accommodations at the Holiday Inn Express, Kearney (B,L,D)
Sun., March 25 Farewells
We’ll begin our morning with breakfast and depart from Kearney at 10 am for arrival back in Lincoln around Noon.
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COST OF THE JOURNEY
Cost of the main journey is $1195.00 per person, based on double occupancy, from Lincoln, NE. This cost includes: accommodations for 4 nights, most meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), airport welcome and transfer, land transportation during the journey, professional guide services, park and preserve entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses, including two sessions in wildlife viewing blinds of the Rowe Sanctuary.
Single supplement is subject to availability and is an additional cost of $195.00.
Costs does not include: round-trip airfare to and from Nebraska, items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar; or gratuities for luggage handling or personal services. With fewer than 6 participants, a small-group surcharge (typically $100-200 per participant) may apply, or we may request that you pick up the cost of a few additional dinners in lieu of that surcharge.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Please plan to arrive in Lincoln*, Nebraska (LNK) by 2:00 PM. We will drive to Kearney this afternoon, so if you are coming from a distance that winter storms may affect your flights, you might want to come in the night before. If so, we suggest the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln for its location and ambiance, but there are also many hotels near the airport. Departures are from Lincoln, NE and these should be made after NOON onward. Lincoln is currently served by Delta and United Express.
*If you prefer to use the airport in Omaha, rather than Lincoln (we use Lincoln as it's one hour closer to the cranes) there is an airport shuttle called A & B Shuttle which can be booked online or by phone. They monitor your flights and are quite reliable.
Naturalist Journeys, LLC is an equal opportunity service provider and committed to the goal of ensuring equal opportunity for all in employment and program delivery.
Photo Credits:
Sandhill Crane (intro), Greg Smith; Sandhill Cranes Dancing, Narca Moore Craig; Cranes on lake and Cranes inorange sky, Ed Pembleton; Ed and Sil Pembleton, Ron Klataske; all other photos, Peg Abbott. |
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